Nakobe Dean exits Eagles-Patriots game early with injury

Former Georgia star linebacker Nakobe Dean exited the Eagles-Patriots game on Sunday afternoon with an injury. He was seen walking to the locker room in the second half with Eagles’ trainers without a helmet, according to James Palmer of NFL Network. Philadelphia fans have to be concerned, especially since they waited all of last season for him to finally get his chance to shine in the Eagles’ defense this fall.

According to the Philadelphia Eagles Twitter page, it’s a foot injury and he is questionable to return to Sunday’s game.

Dean was a third round pick out of Georgia last season and seen as a steal due to some injury concerns. Without those concerns, he likely goes in the first round like Georgia teammate Jordan Davis, who enters Year 2 with the Eagles.

“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. And it’s the time to do it. This is where the team really starts to gel and connect together and then that’s when it’ll carry us on into the season.”

Dean and Davis were joined by Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and Kelee Ringo from this year’s draft class. It’s an entire Georgia reunion in Philadelphia.

They all should make their mark on defense this season. But it’s Dean who went from backup linebacker and special teamer to basically a commander on defense.

“I’m excited for him,” Eagles pass rusher Josh Sweat said. “He’s already taken control from the calls and just knowing everything and getting everybody on the same page. You can tell he’s done it before, you can tell he’s a leader. He’s going to do big things and he’s going to be big for us. But he knows he’s ready.”

Dean logged just 13 tackles and one for loss last season. Those numbers should certainly go up in 2023. He’ll have a chance under new defensive coordinator Sean Desai.

“He won’t allow us to have a death by inches,” Dean said of Desai. “He won’t let something little that might not seem like it matters or might not seem like is pertinent at the time, he won’t let it slide. Because if he lets that slide, something else slides and then something else slides. It’s like a slippery slope. He holds us accountable and he expects everybody else to hold each other accountable.”

On3’s Nick Kosko also contributed to this article.