The Philadelphia Eagles punched their ticket to the top of the NFC East with a 29-18 win over the Washington Commanders in Week 16-a victory that brought plenty of celebration. But amid the postgame buzz, there was one major concern: linebacker Nakobe Dean left the game with a hamstring injury.
For a team that’s been leaning heavily on its defense down the stretch, losing Dean-even briefly-raises some eyebrows. This isn’t his first run-in with the injury report.
Fans will remember that knee injury he suffered in last year’s Wild Card game against Green Bay, which sidelined him for the rest of the postseason and cost him a big chunk of the 2025 regular season. So when Dean limped off the field this time, it was hard not to think, “Here we go again.”
But there’s reason for optimism. Dean himself offered a reassuring update while hosting a toy drive in Cherry Hill, telling fans he was “just fine” and chalking the hamstring issue up to a minor tweak. That’s a welcome bit of news for a fanbase that’s seen too many injury setbacks over the past two seasons.
And let’s be clear-Dean has been a difference-maker since returning to the lineup. Under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Eagles have unleashed Dean in passing situations, often sending him on blitzes where his speed and instincts shine.
Through 10 games this year, he’s stacked up 55 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pass deflection. That’s not just production-that’s impact.
His emergence has also reshaped the linebacker rotation. Jihaad Campbell, the rookie first-rounder who began the season as the starter, has since shifted into more of a special teams role. It’s a testament to how much Dean has elevated his game and how much trust the coaching staff has in him when it matters most.
Now the Eagles face a strategic decision. With the NFC East locked up and the best possible playoff seeding likely being the No. 2 spot, is it worth risking Dean’s health to chase that slight bump?
History tells us head coach Nick Sirianni tends to play it safe when it comes to late-season health. So don’t be shocked if Dean sees limited snaps-or even sits out entirely-over the final two games.
It’s the kind of move that might frustrate fantasy owners, but for Eagles fans with postseason dreams, it makes perfect sense. Dean has been a spark on this defense, and if Philly wants to make a deep playoff run, they’ll need him healthy and flying around the field in January-not nursing another lower-body injury.