Eagles LB Nakobe Dean left Sunday's win over the Packers with a left knee injury. NFL Network reports that it's a torn patellar tendon, which not only ends Dean's season but will challenge his readiness for 2025.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport: "He'll likely miss the start of next season."
Oren Burks replaced Dean against the Packers and wound up playing 55% of the snaps. (Dean played 35% before leaving.)
Expect Burks to start next to Zack Baun at off-ball LB the rest of the playoffs.
He totaled 5 tackles (4 solo) and forced a fumble against Green Bay.
Burks also filled in for Dean over the final two games of the regular season. He tallied 8 and 17 tackles in those two contests, including a big Week 18 stat line against the Giants.
There's upside to Burks as an IDP option over the next few weeks, with the Rams and Lions presenting rushing-volume upside as potential opponents.
Dean faces a tough recovery that we'll have to monitor through the offseason. At the moment, he looks like a poor bet to make an IDP impact for at least the first half of the 2025 season.
Unfortunately for Dean, that's also the final year on his rookie contract. That could incentivize Philly to look into replacement options this offseason.
Dean's ultimately holdable in IDP dynasty leagues, but also isn't a must-hold.
His breakthrough 2024 followed a disappointing -- and injury-riddled -- 2023.
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