Eagles LB Nakobe Dean shares promising injury update

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean was projected to have a big season in 2023, but two different foot injuries kept him from doing just that. 

Dean landed on injured reserve twice last fall. 

His first injury happened to his right foot during the season opener against the New England Patriots, which kept him out until Week 6. He was available for four weeks until he landed on injured reserve with a left foot injury again following the Eagles' Week 9 win over the Dallas Cowboys. 

He did not return after undergoing surgery. 

Through five games, the former 2022 third-round pick out of Georgia logged 30 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a half sack for the Eagles. 

Dean shared with reporters on Wednesday that he has since ditched his post-surgery walking boot and is feeling close to 100 percent.

"The boot came off in early February, before the Superbowl," Dean said. "So I feel great. I've been moving around for about two months without the boot now."

Dean has a pretty clean injury history dating back to his high school days and had never missed a game due to injury, so having to step away for a significant amount of time wasn't the easiest. 

"I mean, the mental side is always hard," Dean said. "But you know, we talk about having a dog mentality all of the time. And I feel like it starts with me being mentally strong. And I'm an optimistic realist. So I'm always real about my situation, but I'm always optimistic. So all I have to do is continue to just work and everything else just take care of itself."

The Eagles' inside linebacker room, which was a major weak spot last year, will look a bit different in 2024 with the additions of Zach Baun, Oren Burks and Devin White. 

You can also expect the Birds to add another depth piece to the positon in the upcoming draft.