5 Eagles players returning from injury heading into training camp
Philadelphia rookies and veterans will report for training camp on July 22, and a loaded roster will look to repeat as Super Bowl champions, while taking every opponent's best shot. Howie Roseman has retooled both sides of the football, and a defense that saw seven starters depart could be just as dominant, depending on several roster competitions.
With training camp set to begin, we're previewing the Eagles returning from injuries that occurred last season.
FB/LB Ben VanSumeren
VanSumeren had carved out a role as the Eagles' fullback, reserve linebacker, and special-teams standout. Still, his season ended prematurely last year after the second-year sensation suffered a knee injury during a Friday practice. VanSumeren did not play a single snap on defense last season; he has carved out a role as a fullback on the offensive side of the ball. He's also a major special-teams contributor, having played 12 offensive snaps last season and 153 on special teams.
LB Nakobe Dean
Dean suffered a torn left patellar tendon in the Eagles' wild-card win over the Packers, but has been rehabbing without a knee brace. While some wonder if he'll be available in 2025, the former Georgia All-American could be ahead of schedule.
According to NBC 10, Dean has invested his time in Ballet movements, which have helped his flexibility. Depending on the extent of the injury, reports suggest it could take nine months to start running and 12 months for sports," Dr. Dinesh Dhanaraj, the chief of orthopedic surgery at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, told the Philly Voice in January. A former third-round pick, Dean was elite in his first full season as a starter, finishing second on the team in tackles (128) while also producing three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
DT Byron Young
Young was claimed off waivers from the Raiders at the end of the preseason last season and spent the first six games of the season as a reserve before landing on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury.
LB Jihaad Campbell (2025 first-round pick)
The Eagles saw a player they liked and gave up pick 164 (5th round) to move up one spot in a trade with the Chiefs to land Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with pick No. 31.
The New Jersey native slipped in the draft after suffering an injury, but lands with the defending Super Bowl champions, and legendary defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio.
RB AJ Dillon
The Eagles added a physical running back to the roster, agreeing to a one-year deal with the former Packers stud. Dillon and Aaron Jones teamed up in Green Bay for a dynamic one-two punch, and that could happen in Philadelphia with the Eagles looking to take some of the load off of Saquon Barkley following a season in which he led the league with 2,0005 yards.
Last summer, Dillon was set to enter a contract year in 2024, but he was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury and missed the entire season. Dillon was selected 62nd overall (second round) in the 2020 NFL Draft. The six-foot, 247-pound back, known as "Quadzilla" by Packers fans, has been cleared for action.
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