With defensive signal caller Dean done for the postseason with a patellar tendon injury, who will step up in Vic Fangio's defense?

PHILADELPHIA — Nakobe Dean registered double-digit tackles in five of the Eagles’ last six regular-season games and was headed in that direction again Sunday against the Green Bay Packers when his season abruptly ended in the first round of the playoffs.

PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles are bringing back a familiar face to add depth at linebacker after losing Nakobe Dean to a season-ending knee injury during Sunday's 2

Vic Fangio has what he calls “a little rule.” A backup linebacker wouldn’t solely practice with another backup linebacker when doing team drills, “because that’s not how it’s going to happen in a game,

With Oren Burks likely to assume the starting linebacker role and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. expected to see more playing time in Dean’s absence, the Eagles not only need experienced depth in case of further injuries within the position group but also someone to fill key special teams assignments.

Vic Fangio confirmed what is already known about Nakobe Dean. “We’re going to miss him a ton,” said the Eagles defensive coordinator about Dean’s

Eagles middle linebacker Nakobe Dean, the key signal-caller on defense, will miss the rest of the postseason with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, an MRI revealed Monday. Dean exited Sunday’s playoff win against Green Bay in the second quarter and was later on crutches and wearing a knee brace on the sideline.

With Nakobe Dean out for the rest of the season, Trotter Jr. could be called upon to play more on defense for the team he grew up rooting for when it was his father playing playoff football.

Eagles' defensive coordinator Vic Fangio indicated that Jeremiah Trotter Jr. could very well be in the mix Sunday against the Rams.