The Philadelphia Eagles, coming fresh off a Super Bowl win with perhaps the best roster in the NFL, are not immune to mistakes. Obviously, most decisions that general manager Howie Roseman makes are good ones, as evidenced by the last couple of days, but issues do arise from time to time.
Finding quality depth at wide receiver has plagued the offense at times in recent years. Wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith form one of the best playmaking duos in the league, but production has lagged behind them. In an attempt to alleviate the issue, Roseman traded for Jahan Dotson last August and drafted promising, but unfortunately injured, rookie Johnny Wilson.
Philadelphia elected to only keep five wideouts on the initial roster, but that doesn't mean that one player has escaped thin ice going into Week 1.
I’ve noticed quite a few people asking who would handle punt returns for the Eagles if they were to waive Ainias Smith.
— Anthony DiBona (@DiBonaNFL) August 24, 2025
Jahan Dotson was reportedly working with the punt returners during training camp and averaged 13.5 yards per punt return on 25 total returns at Penn State. pic.twitter.com/tL0QYAdUIN
Eagles WR Jahan Dotson on Thin Ice After Roster Cutdown Day
Dotson is projected to be the third wideout on the depth chart with John Metchie III and Darius Cooper behind him. He brings value as a potential punt returner, giving him an edge. That said, if he struggles early in the year, Philadelphia won't hesitate to look for a replacement. In fact, they already have by adding Metchie and drafting Wilson.
Since part of his value is built around special teams, Dotson has to deliver there if utilized because he certainly didn't on offense in 2024. He caught just 19 passes for 216 yards despite playing 58% of the snaps, and Philadelphia has little patience for limited production. Offensively, he's been nothing special, indicating he'll either need to shine on special teams or improve as a pass-catcher; otherwise, there's little value he brings to the team.
The talent is certainly there. Dotson was a first-round pick by the Washington Commanders in 2022 but fell out of favor, so he's hoping to resurrect his career. He's a Super Bowl champion now, and there's no harm in that, but Dotson certainly expected more out of himself when he came into the league.
Roseman targeted Metchie, who was a former second-rounder, and acquired him, so expect the ex-Houston Texan to get every opportunity to carve out a role. That could be bad news for Dotson, especially if the team is aggressive about adding a sixth wideout. Should an attractive free agent become available, perhaps the Eagles will sign that person and create even more competition.
It's rare for an organization to keep just five receivers, though it's an indication that Roseman wasn't happy with who was on the roster. Any opportunity for an upgrade is bad news for Dotson, and one certainly exists now.