This past Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles made an unexpected trade. Philadelphia acquired wide receiver John Metchie III and a 6th-round pick from the Houston Texans for tight end Harrison Bryant and a 5th-round pick. While this trade shook up the wide receiver room, it also added a player in Metchie who has yet to live up to his full potential.
That said, the Eagles already seem to be using the former second-round pick in different ways than he's ever been used. According to Zach Berman of The Athletic, during Tuesday's practice, the Eagles were using Metchie as a punt returner, a position he hasn't played in college or the NFL. This is certainly interesting given the former Alabama receiver isn't known for his speed.
Of note: Metchie is fielding punts during STs drills. That’s not something in his background — no punt returns at Alabama, in NFL. https://t.co/5Op36kyD9r
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) August 19, 2025
Eagles Testing WR John Metchie as a Punt Returner
Philadelphia putting Metchie in punt return drills is certainly an interesting choice. The 24-year-old does not have a recorded 40-yard dash due to the torn ACL he had during the pre-draft process in 2022. However, his tape does not show a player who wins with speed, as route running is more his strong suit.
While 40-yard dash time shouldn't be harped upon for a receiver because of how much they stop and start again during routes, it's more important for a punt returner. Punt returners typically need straight-line speed and burst to create separation in the open field. If a player lacks that gear, their returns often result in shorter gains or missed opportunities for field position.
Last year, the Eagles' punt returner was rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean. DeJean ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash and was a decent punt returner. On 21 returns, he gained 211 yards, which is an average of 10.0 yards a return. That put him as the seventh-best returner in terms of average yards during the 2024 season.
Even though moving DeJran off of punt return duties may be smart since he may have more responsibilities on defense, putting Metchie back there could hurt the team. Metchie's lack of speed would likely mean a longer field for the Eagles' offense. That could potentially mean more passing for Jalen Hurts, which hasn't always been a successful winning strategy.
Therefore, if Metchie is named the Eagles' punt returner, then fans may be upset. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if Metchie sees punt return duties in the Eagles' final preseason game.