Many Eagles fans are concerned about Nakobe Dean, the linebacker who has been confirmed to have a patellar tendon tear. Dean suffered his knee injury in the second quarter of the Philadelphia Eagles’ wildcard win against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, January 12. After a struggle with tight-end Tucker Kraft, he was carted off the field and was taken to the locker room, appearing after the game with a large brace over his knee and using crutches for support. Here’s what we know about Nakobe Dean’s torn patellar tendon and the amount of recovery time it will take for him to come back.
What is the recovery time for Nakobe Dean’s torn patellar tendon?
It will take roughly eight months of recovery time for Nakobe Dean to heal his torn patellar tendon, according to NFL network insider Ian Rapoport, who says on X that he will “likely miss the start of next season.”
The patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the shinbone and works with the thigh muscle to straighten the leg properly. While minor patellar tendon tears make it difficult to walk, a major tear typically requires surgery and physical therapy, as noted by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Given reports of the severity of Dean’s injury, revealed through an MRI, it is likely that he has suffered a large tear of the tendon. Complete recovery after surgery on the knee to repair the damage typically takes six months, though it may take upwards of 12 months before patients feel that the tendon has fully healed.
Chosen by the Eagles in the 2022 NFL Draft, Dean became a starter in the 2023 season but could not play for most of it due to various injuries to his foot. He was placed briefly on injured reserve in September 2023 before returning to the field in October, but he suffered a Lisfranc injury and was placed back on IR in November.
In October 2024, the Eagles released Devin White in part because Nakobe Dean outperformed him during training camp and secured the starting middle linebacker role.
