The Philadelphia Eagles secured a massive 22-10 win against the Green Bay Packers during Saturday’s NFL Wild Card contest.
The Eagles will now gear up for the Divisional Round but, unfortunately, will have to pursue a Lombardi Trophy without their star LB Nakobe Dean due to a major knee injury.
NFL Fans Left Heartbroken for LB Nakobe Dean Following Knee Injury News
Dean faced an injury during the second quarter of the Saturday matchup after a collision with Tucker Kraft for a three-yard loss on a screen play.
After the tackle, Dean stayed on the ground, and the Eagles’ medical staff came and took him off the field. During this time, he couldn’t put much pressure on his left knee.
#Eagles LB Nakobe Dean, at the tail end of a breakout season, suffered torn patellar tendon in his knee and is out for the playoffs, per me and @MikeGarafolo.
A tough blow for Philly and for Dean, who has a long road to recovery. He’ll likely miss the start of next season. pic.twitter.com/xtNdv5ttEQ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 13, 2025
After taking him to the locker room, it was announced that Dean was out of the game for good. On Monday, it was reported that Dean had suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee and is now out for the playoffs.
Dean was on the brink of a breakout season, and his absence will be a tough spot for the Eagles to fill. Following the news of his exit, many fans expressed their sadness over his injury.
“This is brutal for him and his career. Flashbacks to Victor Cruz after he tore his patellar. Was never the same,” one fan expressed concern.
“It sucks but once he was carted off & immediately ruled out it was a sign to prepare for the worst. Brutal blow for a young player with so much potential but has struggled to stay on the field early in his career. Zack Baun is a beast but having Dean next to him was a strong point for this defense. Typically a 8-10 month recovery timeline,” another fan added.
“Devastating. There is no other way to describe it. As an Eagles fan, I couldn’t be prouder of Nakobe Dean and the way he played and grew this year. On a team full of standout players, he truly stood out. Keep your head up, and speedy recovery,” another fan sent their wish.
“It’s a huge loss for the Birds, but man, Nakobe was absolutely balling out, and his growth year to year was insane. I pray for a speedy recovery so he’s back in time to help the Eagles on their journey for the repeat,” another Eagles fan added.
Another fan wrote, “Injuries are always the worst part of the game. I pray he heals quickly and comes back even better and more resilient.”
The Eagles have two primary options to replace Dean for the upcoming playoff matchup in Oren Burks and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.