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Potential Nakobe Dean Injury News Worrying Eagles Fans Ahead of Steelers Game

A surprise update on Nakobe Dean has Eagles fans worried about a new injury in Week 15.

By Jason Schandl

Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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The Philadelphia Eagles defense has made a massive leap in 2024, and that has come from play on all levels of the field. Jalen Carter has evolved massively on the defensive line, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have transformed the secondary, and Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean have turned linebacker from a position of weakness to a strength.

That's why Eagles fans had such a keen eye for, and were so worried by, a surprising detail they noticed from a Week 15 practice in the leadup to the Eagles' big matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Nakobe Dean's Mysterious Ailment Has Eagles Fans Worried About Injury

It wasn't heavily reported on, but Nakobe Dean was spotted with an apparent large brace on his right arm at Eagles practice. There's been no news of an arm injury, and this isn't an issue that has popped up previously in his career, so the sudden appearance of such a significant brace is definitely noteworthy.

Is it time to worry yet? Realistically, no, but it's hard not to get nervous about every little detail for fans of a team that completely collapsed down the stretch last year. Things feel a lot different in Philadelphia right now than they did in December 2023, but most Eagles fans are still holding some caution in their optimism.

Time will tell if the team makes any mention of an injury for Dean, but at this point, it doesn't seem like he's at risk of missing any time. The bigger concern would be that either he aggravates the injury and makes it worse or that the heavy brace limits his mobility.

The 2022 third-round pick looked like he might have been on his way to becoming a draft bust last season, but he has finally put everything together in 2024. Missed tackles have been something of an issue (PFF credits him with 13), but he's been making plays all over the field. His 67 solo tackles are tied for No. 10 in the NFL and his 106 total tackles rank 16th. Both are second on the Eagles behind Baun.

The Eagles will have a chance to close the gap on the Detroit Lions in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC this week, especially since the Lions draw a very tough matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The Eagles, on the other hand, are sitting as sizable 5.5-point favorites (per FanDuel Sportsbook) against the AFC North-leading Steelers.

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