The Philadelphia Eagles have announced that linebacker Nakobe Dean is set to return from injured reserve. With that, the 21-day practice window is officially open for Dean to return to the Eagles.
Nakobe Dean suffered a foot injury in Philadelphia’s first game this season, against the New England Patriots. That injury ultimately led to Dean being placed on IR, while the Eagles also signed linebacker Nicholas Morrow in a promotion from the team’s practice squad. Luckily, however, Dean was able to avoid surgery and return before the midway point of the season.
A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia, it surprised many people that Nakobe Dean wasn’t drafted higher than that. However, at the time, he was seen as undersized and was recovering from an injury that he chose not to get surgery for.
He immediately made a huge impact on the Eagles’ defense and special teams as a rookie on the way to a Super Bowl appearance. That led to him entering the 2023 season as the team’s starting inside linebacker before he was injured.
Ahead of the season, Eagles defensive lineman and Georgia teammate of Nakobe Dean, Jordan Davis praised Dean.
“Same old Kobe. That’s the Kobe I know,” Davis said. “Just seeing him take over the huddle and commanding the defense, he’s like the QB of the defense. Everything he say, go. It’s nothing new to me. It’s just good to see him, we’re back out there getting a good feel for each other.”
In Nakobe Dean’s absence, the Eagles have marched to a 5-0 record as they look to return to the Super Bowl this season. Philadelphia’s defense has allowed just 20.8 points per game.
The 21-day practice window is a three week period where teams can decide what to do with a player coming off IR. Either the team activates the player or shuts them down for the remainder of the season. In the case of Dean, he’s expected to soon be activated but it could take as long as those 21 days for that to happen.
NFL competition committee to look into Eagles’ ‘Brotherly Shove’ QB sneak play
The NFL is reportedly looking into the ‘Brotherly Shove’ or ‘Tush Push’ QB sneak play that sees players lined up behind the quarterback pushing them forward on a QB sneak. It was made famous by the Eagles, who have run it incredibly successfully with Jason Kelce and Jalen Hurts.
“Brotherly shove: The controversial play has the attention of the competition committee, and the NFL and the NFLPA plan to study all the injury data related to the play, as is customary, during the off-season, per a league official, especially after two Giants were injured on the play Monday night,” Adam Schefter reported. “The brotherly shove also will be a topic of discussion during the off-season, as it was last off-season. But nothing will change this season; the brotherly shove is here for 2023.”
Injuries appear to be the main concern with the play. However, it has also been criticized by defensive coordinators like Jack Del Rio for it not being a “football play.” Either way, no change will come for the play midseason.
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