Eagles LB Nakobe Dean expected to miss multiple weeks, CB James Bradberry enters concussion protocol

The Eagles started the season with a relatively thin group at inside linebacker, and on Sunday night, it got even thinner.

Second-year inside linebacker Nakobe Dean is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks with a foot injury sustained in the Eagles’ season opener against the New England Patriots, a source confirmed to The Inquirer.

Coach Nick Sirianni specified Monday that he expects Dean to be out for “a couple of weeks,” suggesting that a move to injured reserve may not be imminent. If the Eagles were to place Dean on injured reserve, he would have to miss a minimum of four games.

“Just thankful that it’s not longer than that, because obviously, these things can be worse,” Sirianni said. “Just thankful that it’s not a season-ending injury.”

Sirianni also announced that starting cornerback James Bradberry had been placed in the concussion protocol following a helmet-to-helmet hit late in Sunday’s game.

Dean, the Eagles’ every-down linebacker, appeared to sustain the injury when his legs got tangled up with safety Justin Evans in the third quarter. The 22-year-old out of Georgia finished the game with seven tackles..

Now, the Eagles have just two healthy inside linebackers on their active 53-man roster: Zach Cunningham and Christian Elliss. Going into Week 1, they had two more on their practice squad, Nicholas Morrow and Ben VanSumeren. Morrow, the five-year veteran who signed with the Eagles in free agency, could be a candidate for promotion to the active roster in advance of their Thursday night game against the Minnesota Vikings.

To bulk up their options at inside linebacker, the Eagles signed five-year veteran Rashaan Evans to the practice squad on Monday, a source confirmed. Evans, 27, started all 17 games with the Atlanta Falcons last season.

The 6-foot-2, 232-pound Evans was selected in the first round, No. 22 overall, out of Alabama by the Tennessee Titans in the 2018 draft. He started 50 games in four seasons with the Titans.

Sirianni would not divulge who will be elevated to the active roster from the practice squad to replace Dean on Thursday. However, if Morrow is the next man up, Sirianni said he’s “really confident” in him. Morrow did not make the team out of training camp, but he signed to the practice squad on Sept. 4.

“We believe in the things that he can do,” Sirianni said. “We believe in his style of play, his physicality, being able to line up the defense. A lot of confidence in Nick and if he has to go in that role, we’re excited. I’m excited to watch him roll and for his opportunity.”

Bradberry, 30, crashed helmets with safety Terrell Edmunds late in the fourth quarter while the two combined for a tackle on Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. Bradberry appeared to be bleeding from his mouth area following the hit. He came off the field and did not return to the game.

“Obviously once they go into that world, I can’t comment on that and or say anything about that,” Sirianni said of the protocol. “So we’ll see how that goes.”

The eight-year veteran will have to go through all five phases of the NFL’s return-to-participation protocol before he can be cleared to return to game action. Given that the Eagles face the Vikings this Thursday on a short week, Bradberry’s concussion casts doubt on his Week 2 availability.

When Bradberry left the game, backup cornerback Josh Jobe took his place on eight defensive snaps. Jobe, the 2022 undrafted free agent who is in his second year with the Eagles, finished the game with one pass breakup. He didn’t allow a reception on either of his two targets, according to Pro Football Focus. If Jobe gets the nod to start on Thursday, Sirianni expressed that he’s capable of rising to the occasion.

“I think he’s a really physical corner who is long, strong, is able to just when he gets his hands on you, he’s able to control you,” Sirianni said. “We’ve got a lot of faith in Josh.”

Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox was also injured late in the fourth quarter against the Patriots, taking a blow to the ribs from Cunningham on a carry up the middle by Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott. Cox was slow to get up, but he was able to walk to the sideline under his own power.

A source told The Inquirer that Cox had an MRI on Monday morning that determined he should be fine. His availability for Thursday’s game will depend on pain management.

Despite exiting the game early, Cox played more snaps than any other defensive tackle against the Patriots (50 snaps, 62%). He finished the night with three tackles and a quarterback hit.

The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane contributed to this report.