The Philadelphia Eagles have no shortage of drama this season at the receiver position. Injuries and complaints from A.J. Brown have kept a level of pressure on the offense and quarterback Jalen Hurts to feed its stars the football. Amid this drama, Jahan Dotson's letdown of a 2025 season has been lost. There have simply been far more pressing stories to pay attention to, with the lack of production not getting the deserved attention. The veteran receiver has managed only 8 catches for 151 yards on the season.
While this is good enough to be Philly's 5th leading receiver, it is clear that after this season, it is time to turn the page and find a more consistent third option. Brown and DeVonta Smith are understandably going to be the primary targets; however, the issue for Dotson is that the undersized receiver rarely seems to be on the same page as Hurts. It is hard to envision the pass catcher being brought back after a second-straight season full of disappointment.
Barring a huge second half from the pass catcher, it is time to move in a different direction and attempt to find a more consistent answer. Already, the Eagles have set the stage for this declining Dotson's fifth-year option for the 2026 season.
Barring Surprise Turnaround Eagles Have No Choice but to Move on From Jahan Dotson
In the first two seasons of Dotson's career with the Washington Commanders, the two years combined for well over 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns. Now, after spending nearly two years with the Eagles, the pass catcher has managed one lone touchdown and is nowhere close to half of this yardage. There simply isn't any level of consistency, and it is obvious there is a lack of chemistry with Hurts.
Still, the most important days of the season are still ahead, leaving plenty of road ahead for Dotson to change Philly's mind. Whether it is making key plays in a January run or finishing strong the rest of the regular season, things can change.
The most likely path remains the Eagles parting ways with Dotson at the end of the year and bringing in a veteran as the third target. A piece that Hurts can rely on when needed, but can shy away from when the game calls for focusing on other pieces. Even after winning a Super Bowl with Dotson in the lineup, it is clear the franchise can improve by bringing in a piece like Adam Thielen or Keenan Allen, who are former top targets.
This is what the third role should be utilized for in Philly, an aging pass catcher that can offer reliability without lofty expectations. All of this sets the stage for Dotson to leave, barring an unexpected turnaround.