The Philadelphia Eagles will be without a key contributor on defense for the regular season opener against the Green Bay Packers, in Brazil, but there’s a chance that the franchise could move on from him permanently.
Veteran linebacker Devin White, who signed with the Eagles in the early stages of free agency this spring, won’t travel with the team for the Week 1 showdown in Brazil.
Likewise, according to a report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Philadelphia has explored the possibility of trading White in recent weeks.
“There were murmurs that the Eagles could trade Devin White before the cutdown,” Breer posted on X on Wednesday morning. “Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean both were really good in camp. So, fair or not, White missing the opener won’t help his case for a big role in the defense.”
General manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles have spent significant resources over the past three offseasons intent on finding stability at linebacker, including signing White in hopes that he would provide some much-needed veteran leadership and consistency.
How Philadelphia Eagles Will Replace Devin White vs. Green Bay Packers
If the Eagles are in fact trying to move White, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and the front office will get a glimpse of what the defense would look like without him, in the season opener.
With White sidelined, Dean gets an audition to inherit the starting role.
Since falling to the Eagles in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Dean has posted 43 career tackles with half a sack, including a career-high 30 total tackles last season.
“It was amazing to get back on the field and playing football,” Dean told the Eagles’ official website during the preseason. “The injury that I had, it was hard and it was long. I didn’t have a day off. I didn’t have an offseason. It was at least five days a week all the way up until Training Camp started as far as getting the foot right.
“I’m not back. I’m better.”
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