‘Nakobe’s The Starter’

Remember all the way back – like, a few weeks ago – when the fellas at Inside The Birds were questioning why Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean was still running with the second team?

Remember when Andrew DiCecco, Adam Caplan and Geoff Mosher were all reporting that Dean had shown for most of camp that he’s among the team’s best two linebackers?

Well, nobody needs to wonder anymore.

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio on Wednesday confirmed that Dean would remain a starter alongside Zack Baun as the Eagles get ready to prepare for their Week 2 matchup Monday night at home against the Atlanta Falcons.

“Nakobe’s the starter,” Fangio said in his weekly press conference.

“I just think from the start of camp he won the job,” Fangio later added.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles DC Vic Fangio confirmed that LB Nakobe Dean (pictured) is the starter even when Devin White is healthy.

What’s that mean for Devin White, the veteran free-agent signing and former All Pro who was the starter for all of camp until an ankle injury kept him playing playing in Friday night’s opener against the Packers?

Time will tell, but even when White is healthy, Dean remains the starter, Fangio insisted, although he added that White “is still part of it.”

White, in his sixth season after spending his first five with Tampa Bay, hasn’t played more than 5 percent of special teams snaps since 2001, when the 2019 No. 5 overall pick played 12 percent of special teams, so it’ll be interesting to see what role White occupies when he’s ready to play.

Dean recorded four tackles against the Packers, one for a loss, and a pass defended in the Eagles’ 34-29 win. Baun led the defense with 15 tackles, including a sack, and helped cause an interception with his coverage.

Round Around The Edges

Fangio also didn’t mince words about his edge rusher group, which didn’t produce much pressure against Packers quarterback Jordan Love and saw 36-year-old Brandon Graham play more total snaps (32) than big-ticket free-agent signing Bryce Huff (30) and 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith (31).

Asked what Huff, who signed a big-time deal in free agency, needs to do to see more snaps, Fangio said the fifth-year pro “just needs to separate himself from the other guys.”

The only edge defender to play more snaps than Graham was Josh Sweat, who played 41.

Sweat was the only edge defender credited with a hit on Love.

“We didn’t pass rush good enough overall in the game,” Fangio said, noting the slippery field conditions could’ve contributed to those struggles.

Special Saquon

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his three-touchdown game against the Packers.

Barkley, another major free-agent addition, rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He also caught two passes for 23 yards and a touchdown.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.