Nakobe Dean injury: Eagles 3 best options to replace star middle linebacker going forward-HN

The Philadelphia Eagles entered Sunday’s wild-card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers with every starter healthy.

That’s likely to change in the NFC Divisional Round, however, after inside linebacker Nakobe Dean exited with what is feared to be a season-ending knee injury.

The team has yet to make an announcement on Dean’s status, but he was carted to the locker room and ruled out quickly during the second quarter of Sunday’s 22-10 win over the Packers. Dean was pictured leaving the stadium with a bulky knee brace and crutches.

The Eagles have some options on their roster, but they’re unproven, as Dean and running mate Zack Baun rank fourth and second, respectively, on the team in total defensive snaps this season.

Here are Philly’s three best options to replace Dean, should he be ruled out this week as expected:

Nakobe Dean injury: Eagles 3 best options to replace star middle linebacker going forward image

Oren Burks

Burks was somewhat of an unsung hero in the Packers game. He forced a fumble on the opening kickoff, leading to an Eagles touchdown that allowed the team to play with a lead for basically the entire game. He was also the next man up for Philly after Dean exited prior to halftime.

Was he among the Eagles’ top performers on defense? Absolutely not. He struggled with missed tackles, which continues to be an issue, and how much confidence the team has in a player that was initially cut and signed to the practice squad this past summer is fair to question. With that said, he started in both Weeks 17 and 18 with Dean out resting an abdomen injury, and that recent playing time could be his path to getting the first crack at next week’s playoff game.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Philly’s fifth-round rookie played sparingly prior to Week 18, when he started in place of the resting Zack Baun. He played well in that game against the Giants, racking up 11 total tackles. Trotter was somewhat outshined that day by Burks, though, as the veteran finished with 17 total tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage.

There will be cries from Eagles fans to get Trotter Jr. more involved this week, and rightfully so. But the rookie has been out-snapped by Burks during the season, and was not in the mix after Dean exited on Sunday. Unless the coaches make a change based on Sunday’s game film, Trotter appears to be behind Burks on the depth chart entering the week.

Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean ruled out of wild-card game vs. Packers with  a knee injury - NFL - Castanet.net

Dallas Gant

Could the undrafted rookie out of Toledo ultimately slot in next to Baun and become the story of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run? It’s unlikely, but certainly not impossible. Gant spent training camp with the Minnesota Vikings and flashed in the preseason — including on Aug. 24 against the Eagles when he recorded seven solo tackles. He was eventually waived by the Vikings and wound up signing with the Eagles practice squad on Nov. 4. Per Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports: “Gant has 4.69-second speed and had consecutive 116-tackle seasons for the Rockets after beginning his collegiate career at Ohio State. With what’d be plenty of free flows to the football thanks to Jalen Carter, Josh Sweat, and Co., Gant can be a useful stand-in if necessary.”

Gant’s not a name that most NFL fans know, but he could be one to watch if the Eagles sign him back to the active roster this week.

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