The Philadelphia Eagles have locked up the NFC East crown and can fall no further than the No. 3 seed in the playoff race. The defending champions still have plenty to play for over the next two weeks, though, as the possibility, albeit slim, of jumping the Chicago Bears and finishing as the No. 2 seed in the NFC still exists.
With that being the case, there were plenty of eyes on the team's practice session on Friday, as that is usually a strong indicator of who will, and will not, be available to play on Sunday. Veteran LB Nakobe Dean was one of the players who was noticeably absent from the practice field during the portion of practice that is open to the media, which could open the door for a rookie to remind the fan base and coaching staff of what he is capable of.
Jihaad Campbell Gifted 2nd Chance to Make Impact With Dean Injury
Dean is currently dealing with a hamstring injury, which is never ideal at this stage of the NFL season as the stakes for teams like the Eagles have been raised. Fortunately, Philadelphia is in a spot where losing Dean would not be a crucial blow to the defense, despite it being one that would undoubtedly be felt. Rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell has filled in for Dean already this season and could now do so once again.
In the Eagles' win over the Washington Commanders in Week 16, Campbell had his best performance since early October as the rookie racked up six total tackles in the 29-18 victory. If the former University of Alabama standout can build off of that performance on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, it would not only help build momentum for Philadelphia but could help Campbell's odds of playing a larger role in the City of Brotherly Love in 2026 and beyond.
Dean will be a free agent this offseason, and Howie Roseman will have a difficult decision to make about continuing that partnership. Having a player like Campbell in the fold only adds to this decision, as paying Dean big money in a free agent contract would negatively impact the team's first-round pick from 2025. Simply having Campbell on the roster shouldn't be the only factor in the decision to come on Dean, however.
The rookie must prove he is up to the task, especially after Dean performed at a strong level once he was ultimately able to return from injury on Oct. 9 against the New York Giants. This makes the potential opportunity against the Bills one to watch, for a variety of reasons, this weekend and, perhaps, in Week 18.
One way or another, Roseman and the Eagles will need to find clarity on Dean and his offseason situation sooner rather than later. Campbell can assist them in that endeavor, or make the decision more difficult, with his play over the next two weeks.