2025-10-09
Cristopher Sanchez more than a willing participant for Game 4 of NLDS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean will make his 2025 debut on Thursday night against the Giants.The Eagles on Thursday afternoon activated Dean to their 53-man roster just over a week after opening his practice window from the PUP list.The team also elevated DT Gabe Hall for the Giants game, which is notable because Jalen Carter (heel) is officially questionable entering tonight.Dean, 24, began this season on the Physically Unable to Perform list after tearing his patellar tendon against the Packers in the wild-card round in January. He has been around the team all season but has been a spectator for the first five weeks.While defensive coordinator Vic Fangio didn’t say much about Dean’s potential role upon his return, Fangio did allow that it won’t be a full-time role because Dean hasn’t played in so long. But either way, it’s hard to imagine the Eagles taking Zack Baun or Jihaad Campbell off the field very much based on the way those two have played this season.How will Fangio make it work with all three of them?“We’ll figure it out,” he said this week.Last week, Dean was asked if it would be hard for him to accept a smaller role in the defense.“What do you mean hard for me?” Dean said. “I mean, I control what I control. I’m out there, I’m playing, I’m practicing.“I know I can play. I know we can go out there and ball. So I control what I control, continue to ball, continue to get better mentally, physically, emotionally, throughout the whole thing, no matter what. Just continue to get better.”For now, expect Dean to at least add some depth to the linebacker room and play a role on special teams. In 2024, Dean had a breakout season. He started 15 games and played at an extremely high level as the starting middle linebacker and green dot in Fangio’s defense. Dean waited his turn to become a starter and in Year 3 helped the Eagles’ defense reach its peak in the Super Bowl season.This is Dean’s final year under contract as a 2022 third-round pick. He is set to become a free agent in March.