Injuries hit the Philadelphia Eagles defense in a Week 1 win over the New England Patriots.
Cornerback James Bradberry is in concussion protocol and linebacker Nakobe Dean will miss multiple weeks with a foot injury.
“We’re expecting him to be out for a couple weeks. Just thankful it’s not a season-ending injury,” head coach Nick Sirianni said of Dean on Monday.
Bradberry will be hard-pressed to graduate through the NFL-mandated protocol for documented head injuries with the Eagles (1-0) facing a short week ahead of Thursday night’s game against the visiting Minnesota Vikings.
Dean’s injury will not require surgery but could potentially lead to a stint on injured reserve.
“We feel like we have some good options there at linebacker,” Sirianni said of how the Eagles would fill Dean’s spot.
Dean, 22, started and recorded seven tackles before exiting in the third quarter of Philadelphia’s 25-20 victory.
A third-round pick out of Georgia in 2022, Dean played in all 17 games as a rookie and registered 13 tackles while mostly playing on special teams.
As insurance, ESPN reported that the Eagles are signing linebacker and former Tennessee Titans first-round pick Rashaan Evans to their practice squad.
Evans, 27, started all 17 games for Atlanta last season and led the team with 159 tackles. He has 476 tackles, five sacks, five fumble recoveries and two interceptions in 76 games (67 starts) with the Titans (2018-21) and Falcons.
Bradberry, 30, had four tackles on Sunday. The 2020 Pro Bowl selection has 18 interceptions in 110 career games with the Carolina Panthers (2016-19), New York Giants (2020-21) and Eagles.
–Field Level Media
