Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean is set to make his season debut Thursday night after he was activated off the reserve/physically unable to perform list earlier in the day.
Dean, 24, has been sidelined since sustaining a torn patellar tendon in the Eagles’ playoff opener vs. Green Bay on Jan. 12. He missed the final three games of Philadelphia’s run to the Super Bowl championship and the first five contests this season, but is set to return for the Eagles (4-1) against the New York Giants (1-4) in East Rutherford, N.J.
Before his injury last season, Dean was having a breakthrough campaign in his third year in the league. He recorded 128 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and six quarterback hits in 15 games (all starts) a season ago.
His return will be a boost for a Philadelphia defense which has been middling early this season, ranking 22nd in rushing defense (126.8 yards allowed per game).
The Eagles also announced Thursday afternoon they will be elevating defensive tackle Gabe Hall from the practice squad for the matchup with New York. That may be indicative of star defensive tackle Jalen Carter’s status after he was listed as questionable on the Eagles’ final injury report with a heel injury.
