Eagles share good news on injured defender

Dean was a top linebacker before his injury

Dean, a third-round draft pick in 2022, has not played a game for the Eagles since suffering a patellar tendon injury during the 2024 wild-card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Starting the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Dean has been slowly working to get back on the field with the team. 

AS shared by Chris McPherson of the Eagles, Dean was graded by Pro Football Focus as the second-best linebacker in the NFL from Weeks 6-18, behind only teammate Zack Baun. 

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, in his media availability on Tuesday, spoke of how great Dean played in 2024 and how he was a leader because of his play. 

"He played great last year," Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio said on Tuesday, via McPherson. "Besides being the signal-caller guy and being a leader, you can't be a leader if you don't play good and he played great for us last year. As far as where he is at now, either this week or next week, he'll start his practice window and then we'll see where he is at."

In 15 games last season, Dean had 3.0 sacks, 80 solo tackles (fourth in the NFC), 128 total tackles (14th in the NFC), one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and an interception. 

Getting Dean back would elevate the Eagles' defense 

Even though the defense is doing its job and keeping opposing teams at bay, getting Dean back will help elevate the unit. Having Dean back next to Baun, ranked as the sixth-best linebacker according to Pro Football Focus this season, would give the Eagles one of the best linebacker duos in the game. 

With the defense slowly getting into its groove and its core players playing well, adding Dean could help the Eagles' defense go from the middle of the pack to being back at the top like last season.