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Philadelphia, PA — Ahead of Thursday night’s Week 6 trip to face the New York Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles got a huge boost: linebacker Nakobe Dean is expected to make his 2025 season debut with a managed snap count. It marks a significant step after he missed the first five weeks while recovering from a torn patellar tendon suffered in January that landed him on the PUP list. Dean’s return targets a clear pain point for the defense. Through five games, the Eagles rank 22nd against the run and have just seven sacks—one of the lowest totals in the league. In 2024, the former third-round pick posted an 82.5 pass-rush grade and an 80.4 run-defense grade (per Pro Football Focus), bringing second-level speed, cleaner run fits, and another source of pressure to collapse pockets from depth. Operationally, the Eagles are likely to use a pitch count for Dean: prioritize early downs against the run, short-yardage/red zone packages, and select green-dog blitzes when the running back stays in protection. His presence should also let the front seven vary stunts/twists, cut the quarterback’s time to throw, and lift the rate of tackles near the line of scrimmage. Realistically, returns from a patellar tendon tear require a week-to-week ramp-up. Expect situational impact more than a wholesale transformation in his first game back. Even so, simply having Dean available is a timely, high-leverage upgrade—a piece that can tighten the middle, stabilize the second level, and set the stage for the Eagles’ pass rush to find its edge again.