Eagles could have a Nakobe Dean problem on their hands

The Eagles are hoping Nakobe Dean can return to full strength this season. But after tearing his left patellar tendon in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, there’s growing reason to believe that might not happen.

Just ask the San Francisco 49ers.

On Friday, the Niners released former second-round pick Drake Jackson after he failed a physical. The reason? That same torn patellar tendon Dean suffered — and over a year later, Jackson still isn’t right. Not great!

Jackson was once viewed as a promising pass rusher with legit upside. Now, he’s out of a job. The parallels to Dean are hard to ignore. Different positions, sure. But same injury, similar age, and the same brutal recovery timeline.

This isn’t a twisted ankle. Patellar tendons are no joke.

Eagles Have History With Patellar Rehab — and It’s Not Encouraging

If Jackson’s situation wasn’t enough to raise concerns, just look at what happened with Caden Sterns. The Eagles brought him in last year after his own patellar tear. He was released, added to the practice squad, cut, brought back, and then cut again. Never the same player.

Dean insists he’ll be back and better than ever — and for his sake and the Eagles’ sake, let’s hope that’s true. But based on what we’re seeing around the league, that’s far from guaranteed.

Jihaad Campbell Is the Break-Glass Option

Luckily, Howie Roseman spent a first-round pick on Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell — and that could prove to be an insurance policy more than anything else.

Campbell is raw, no doubt, but he has all the tools. Fast, instinctive, and aggressive downhill — basically a younger, more athletic version of what Dean was supposed to be. If Dean can’t stay healthy or looks limited early in the year, don’t be shocked if Campbell starts to take those reps.

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It wouldn’t be the first time the Eagles leaned on a rookie linebacker in a big spot.

Drake Jackson’s name might pop back up on the Eagles’ radar if he ever gets healthy. Roseman has a habit of scooping up San Fran’s leftovers — Trey Sermon, Tyrion Davis-Price, Danny Gray — and Jackson was a second-round pick just a few years ago.

For now, though, the bigger story is what his failed rehab means for Nakobe Dean. The Eagles have big plans this season. They need someone they can trust in the middle of the defense.

If Dean can’t go, Jihaad Campbell might get his shot sooner than expected.