Report: Nakobe Dean Diagnosed With Injury That May Need Surgery

Heading into the 2023 NFL season, the expectation was that second-year Linebacker Nakobe Dean would step into the role as the Eagles' primary Linebacker and serve as the defensive play-caller. Instead, Dean missed four games earlier this season and now will miss some of the most important games of Philadelphia's season.

Nakobe Dean Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

NFL Network Reporter Mike Garafolo revealed on Wednesday afternoon that Nakobe Dean has received a Lisfranc Sprain diagnosis and will be seeing a Foot Specialist soon to determine whether he needs surgery or not. The expectation is that Dean will be placed on Injured Reserve and will miss at least the next four games.

Even though Dean has only played 31.38% of the Defensive Snaps this season, there was still an expectation for the 23-year-old to be a key contributor and depth player for the Linebacker position. In his absence, Philadelphia has gotten better-than-expected production from Zach Cunningham and Nicolas Morrow.

Nicholas Morrow Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

Morrow is one of the highest-graded Linebackers in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus this season and is tied for the most Tackles For Loss on the Eagles this year (8). Cunningham has played the third most Defensive Snaps for Philadelphia this season and the second most Solo Tackles on the roster this year (34).

Zach Cunningham Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

In five games this season, Dean had compiled 22 Solo Tackles for an Eagles defense that now has to face the toughest stretch of their schedule without him. The next four games for Philadelphia include these dangerous offenses:

*Kansas City Chiefs have the 7th Most Total Yards in the NFL
*Buffalo Bills have the 5th Most Total Yards in the league
*San Francisco 49ers have the 4th Most Total Yards in the NFL
*Dallas Cowboys have the 10th Most Total Yards in the league.

Dean was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft after a successful career at the University of Georgia where he was a College Football National Champion. Dean was the 2021 Dick Butkus Award Winner (given to the best Linebacker in College Football) and was a 2021 Consensus All-American along with being the leader of the Georgia Bulldogs Defense.

Check Out Greater Atlantic City, NJ Area Athletes Who Played Games In NFL

Many people are not aware of the number of athletes from the Greater Atlantic City Region who have played in the National Football League. Football players who played at high schools in Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland, and Ocean Counties have a strong representation in the NFL over the last few decades.

One of the most difficult accomplishments in sports is to make a Professional Sports Roster and earn the opportunity to play in a game at the highest level of the sport. Check out some of the great South Jersey Athletes who have played in games in the NFL:

Gallery Credit: Joshua Hennig/Townsquare Media