Report: Eagles' Dean to miss rest of playoffs with knee injury

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.

The injury will end his playoff run.

Dean is expected to have a long recovery period and could miss the start of the 2025 season, per Rapoport and Garafolo.

The 24-year-old appeared to get hurt after attempting to break up a pass in the second quarter of the Eagles' 22-10 wild-card win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Dean got up slowly and was helped to the sideline with the assistance of team trainers. He was subsequently carted off the field and ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Dean recorded six tackles and two tackles for loss before exiting Sunday's contest.

Dean missed the final two regular-season games after going down with an abdominal injury in a matchup against the Washington Commanders in December.

The third-year defender finished second behind Zack Baun with 128 tackles to go along with 9 TFLs and three sacks during the regular season.

Oren Burks is expected to see more snaps as the Eagles continue their postseason run. Burks ended Sunday with five tackles, including forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff.

"We're definitely playing for him out there," Burks said, according to The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno. "We're going to miss him. We don't know what the situation is, but this is a next-man-up mentality."