NAKOBE DEAN'S RETURN COMES IN THE NICK OF TIME

Nakobe Dean held court at his locker this week as he may get his first reps at linebacker this season. Photo by Al Thompson

Nakobe Dean was asked by Bob Brookover of NJ.com if he believed he was one of the top eleven players on defense right now.

Dean looked at Brookover in a serious but playful stare and exclaimed,

“It's obvious. What did you think I'm going to say?” Dean exclaimed with a smile. “I'm not going to say I'm not! C'mon now.”

When asked if he has talked to Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio about getting on the field to play defense instead of playing only special teams which is what his did during the Eagles 34-17 loss to the Giants last Thursday at MetLife Stadium.

“I can't worry about that, control what I can control and get better,” Dean said at his locker this week as the Birds get ready to play the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. “I'm a pro, you want to play...if I'm asked I want to play every snap, I will,” Dean Said. “But I can only control what I can control. I haven't talked to anyone directly, so I can only control what I can control...work hard, get better.”

Dean was asked what it was like mentally as he got better after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his left knee in January 2025.

He is way ahead a schedule. Many thought he's miss the entire 2025 season.

“I'm itching to play, I'm itching to get out there and play more, and more, and more,” Dean said. “I was saying before, If they want me to play every snap, I want to play every snap.”

Dean talked about at least getting on the field last week, even if it was limited duty.

“I felt good getting back out there,” the fourth-year linebacker out of Georgia said. “As much as I wanted to play more, it was great being out there.”

Former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz throws a pass during the 2018 season. He will likely be the starter for the Vikings as they host the Eagles in a key NFC matchup. Photo by Andy Lewis.

DEAN ON VIKINGS QUARTERBACKS

Dean was asked what he knew about Carson Wentz, the former Eagles quarterback who led the 2017 Birds to the No. 1 seed in the playoffs before suffering a serious knee injury that kept him out of the playoffs.

His backup Nick Foles finished the job securing the Eagles franchise its first ever Super Bowl trophy.

Wentz will likely start the game as second-year J.J. McCarthy continues to rehab a high ankle sprain.

 “He's a good quarterback,” Dean said. “We don't know right now if we're getting him or J.J. (McCarthy). They both can run the offense extremely well. The Vikings are a good team that continues to get better.”

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has not officially announced his starter for Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium

McCarthy answered a question this week about the status of his ankle.

“Ankle is ... it’s getting there,” McCarthy said. “I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent right now, but we’re striving every day to get there as fast as we can.”

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will have his hands full this Sunday in Minnesota. Photo by Andy Lewis.

FANGIO WEIGHS IN THE THE BIRDS PASS RUSH AND SECONDARY

Dean could play a big role in Sunday's match-up against superstar receiver Justin Jefferson and receiver Jordan Addison.

With defensive tackle Jalen Carter just coming back from a heal injury, with edge rusher Nolan Smith still recovering from an injury and out for this game...plus the sudden retirement of edge rusher Za'Darius Smith, Fangio was asked at his weekly press conference about having Dean available, if he's healthy, would that make it a bit easier to give rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell or even linebacker Zack Baun snaps on the edge?

Fangio stayed true to his reputation of a man of few words said, “It does.”

Fangio was asked if he was of the belief that he needs the eleven best players on the field regardless of the position, and if that's the case, would that automatically qualify a start for Dean?

“It does and it doesn't,” Fangio said. “Really what you want is your best combination. It's kind of like when you're talking about the offensive line.

“If your sixth best offensive lineman is a guard, then your center goes down and he can't play center, or your tackle goes down and he can't play tackle. Do you go with the 'I want my five best out there' or your best combination, so it's both.”

Fangio was asked if Campbell's versatility played a role in the Eagles commitment to grab him in the first round?

“Obviously, we know he has the versatility to potentially be out there,” Fangio said. “All of his work has been at inside other than the packages where we move them up. At that time, not really because we knew Nakobe was going to miss a good part of the season.”

WENTZ ON FACING HIS FORMER TEAM

Wentz was asked if he felt any pressure playing against the team that made him the second overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft. He was the first quarterback the Eagles selected in the first round since Donovan McNabb in 1999, who was also taken second overall.

“Not really,” Wentz said at his week-of press conference. “Maybe earlier in my career...maybe I would have had a different feeling.

“At the same time, you look over there, I'm not even sure if there are any players left that I played with. It just looks different.”

This is just the second time Wentz has started against the Eagles since he left after the 2020 season. He only other start was when he was with Washington on September 22, 2022. The Birds won the game 24-8. *

Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstries.com.