The Philadelphia Eagles sewed up an NFC East championship with Saturday’s win over the Washington Commanders. While the title affords them the chance to take a long-term view, with injuries over the final two weeks of the regular season, it also brings some concern in the case of linebacker Nakobe Dean.
Dean left Saturday’s game with a hamstring injury, and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio told reporters on Tuesday that Dean is “iffy” for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. While Fangio added that he didn’t “think we’re done seeing him this year,” it creates a hole to fill in the short term that could be Jihaad Campbell’s opportunity for a massive Week 17 performance.
Nakobe Dean’s Injury Gives Jihaad Campbell a Huge Opportunity vs. Bills
The dynamic between Dean and Campbell has been confusing throughout the 2025 season. Dean offered the prelude by tearing his patellar tendon during a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers last January, and the Eagles responded by trading up for Campbell in the first round of April’s draft.
Campbell played well in the first stretch of the season, making 33 total tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and two pass defenses in five games before Dean returned from injury on Oct. 9. Since Dean returned, Campbell has taken a backseat as Dean has logged 55 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, a pass defense and a forced fumble in 10 games.
The gap between the two linebackers widened as Zack Baun held down the other starting linebacker spot, and after Campbell averaged 62.8 snaps in the first seven games, his average count dropped to 17.1 snaps over the past eight games.
While Campbell’s rookie season seemed lost, it may have found a purpose with Dean’s injury. Campbell played 36 snaps largely after Dean left Saturday’s game, according to Pro Football Focus, but didn’t have an opportunity as a pass rusher outside of one snap. Although that snap resulted in a pressure, it was his first since Week 8, and he hasn’t had multiple pressures in a game since recording three in a Week 6 loss to the New York Giants.
Campbell will likely take a back seat to Dean whenever he returns from injury. But Sunday’s game could be a chance to show how much he’s learned during his rookie season. With Dean also slated to be a free agent next spring, it’s a chance for Campbell to take an expanded role in 2026, which could give a motivated rookie his chance to shine against the Bills.