Report: Eagles LB Nakobe Dean expected to be placed on IR with Lisfranc injury

Nakobe Dean will be place on injured reserve following the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Dallas Cowboys, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Dean, a second-year linebacker out of Georgia, left the win over the Cowboys with a foot injury and did not return. It was worse than anticipated, as Dean was reportedly diagnosed with a Lisfranc injury.

The timeline is unknown, but Dean will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

“Eagles LB Nakobe Dean has been diagnosed with a Lisfranc sprain, sources tell me and (Ian Rapoport),” Garafolo wrote on Twitter. “Dean, who called the defensive signals to start this season, will see a foot specialist to determine a course of action but he’s expected to be placed on IR.”

Prior to his injury, Dean came up with a big sack on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, which his alma mater celebrated on social media. He was credited with half a sack on the play, bringing his total to three tackles on the day before his early exit.

This season, Dean only played in five games with multiple injuries. He has 30 total tackles, 22 solo tackles, two tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. In his career, while playing mostly special teams as a rookie, Dean has 43 total tackles, 31 solo tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.

Dean was a third round pick out of Georgia in the 2022 NFL Draft (No. 83 overall). While with the Bulldogs, he finished with 168 total tackles, 89 solo tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight pass deflections, three forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown.

As a member of the Class of 2019, Dean was a five-star recruit out of Horn Lake (Miss.) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 3 overall prospect in the state, the No. 5 linebacker in the class and the No. 30 overall prospect in the class.

Dean transitioned to MIKE linebacker this offseason and got to really work with former Georgia teammates to slide into the starting role, like with Jordan Davis.

“Same old Kobe. That’s the Kobe I know,” Davis said in the summer. “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.”