Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was surprised to see rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell participating in the team’s first training camp practice Wednesday as the first-round pick continues recovering from a torn labrum in his shoulder suffered at Alabama. When it comes to linebacker Nakobe Dean and his recovery from a torn patellar tendon, Fangio doesn’t expect any surprises, and it appears it will still take some time for him to return.
Speaking Thursday before practice, Fangio was asked if there was a chance that the team’s trainers were underestimating Dean’s return. Fangio, in the blunt, direct manner he has always shown, gave a quick, simple answer.
“I don’t think so,” he said.
In a follow-up question, Fangio was asked if it would be a tough task for Dean to be around for the start of the season. Fangio said, “Yeah.”
Dean, who was placed on the physically unable to perform list Wednesday, had a breakout season last year as a starter, finishing with 128 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Dean suffered his gruesome injury in the wild-card round game against the Green Bay Packers and missed the rest of the Eagles’ playoff run.
While appearing on the “Nightcap” podcast in February after the Super Bowl, Dean disclosed the severity of his injury.
“It felt like my knee just buckled,” Dean said. “I kind of looked down, and I saw my kneecap at the top of my thigh. I sat down and pushed my kneecap back in. I stood up and thought I was all right. When I stood up, it popped right back out, and I pushed it back in. I’m thinking it was dislocated, so I wanted them to get me a brace, but then it blew up like a balloon. I was like, ‘What the (expletive)?’ It’s all good. I’ve had an injury before. God is going to get me better than ever.”
While Campbell will likely see some action, the Eagles plan to continue managing his recovery carefully. With Dean’s timeline uncertain and Campbell being eased back, second-year linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will get significant reps with the first team and could start the season opener.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.