Football <\/p>\n
The question is: what will his role be?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Philadelphia Eagles will activate Nakobe Dean from the reserve\/physically unable to perform list (PUP) to play in the team\u2019s Week 6 Thursday Night Football game against the New York Giants, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n He adds: \u201c[Dean\u2019s] workload [is] expected to be limited at first but [it\u2019s] set to progressively increase throughout the year.\u201d<\/p>\n This sentiment aligns with what Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had to say about Dean on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Q. At this time last week, you were still waiting to see how Eagles LB Nakobe Dean looked. Now that you\u2019ve had a week seeing him, how do you think he factors in when he gets out there?<\/strong><\/p>\n Fangio: There\u2019s a chance he could be active this week. Not positive yet.<\/p>\n Q. And what type of role do you anticipate for him?<\/strong><\/p>\n Fangio: Oh, it would just be \u2013 because he hadn\u2019t had any [2025] game [experience], no training camp \u2013 it wouldn\u2019t be a full-time role yet.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Dean is set to play (on the MetLife Stadium turf, yikes) for the first time since suffering a torn patellar tendon during the Eagles\u2019 January 13 playoff win over the Green Bay Packers.<\/p>\n While he was a really good starting linebacker next to Zack Baun last offseason, his role moving forward is unclear. Baun and Jihaad Campbell are firmly entrenched as the team\u2019s top two starting off-ball linebackers. And Fangio has repeatedly shot down the idea of moving Campbell to edge rusher.<\/p>\n So, perhaps Dean will be limited to some occasional defensive snaps in specific packages? And otherwise be a backup and special teams contributor?<\/p>\n We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n At the very least, getting Dean boosts the Eagles\u2019 depth at linebacker. Of course, they were already looking solid there with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. having a good summer and rookie Smael Mondon Jr. also showing promise in the offseason.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n