The Philadelphia Eagles' front office completing a trade for veteran wide receiver John Metchie III makes a little more sense now that news has surfaced concerning a current member of the WR room being lost for the 2025 season.
While the former second-round pick will certainly play a key role in Philadelphia once he is caught up with learning the offense, the door is now open for players who had been fighting for a job during training camp to crack the 53-man roster of the defending champions.
According to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2024 sixth-round pick Johnny Wilson is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his knee and ankle after going down with an injury during Tuesday's practice session.
#Eagles WR Johnny Wilson will undergo season-ending surgery on his knee and ankle after suffering the injury at practice on Tuesday, NFL sources said.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) August 21, 2025
Injury to Eagles' Johnny Wilson Means UDFA WR Will Make Roster
Beyond the addition of Metchie, fellow 2024 draft pick Ainias Smith and undrafted rookie Darius Cooper now stand a greater chance of making the final 53-man roster in Philadelphia than they did at the beginning of the week.
Both Smith and Cooper were behind Wilson on the team's latest depth chart, but have enjoyed standout moments of their own before this news. Smith has two touchdown receptions and a 46-yard punt return to his credit in the Eagles' two preseason games. Cooper made his presence felt in the team's preseason opener, reeling in 82 receiving yards and a touchdown of his own.
The fact that Smith has a year of experience within the system already under his belt, conventional wisdom would lead one to believe that he would have the leg up when it comes to making the final team out of camp.
Butler being this impressive after signing as an UDFA out of Tarleton State is much more of a surprise. There couldn't have been anyone out there predicting he would be in the running for a spot on the roster at this stage of the preseason. Despite that being the case, he is absolutely in the thick of things now. The injury to Wilson further cements that fact.
While it would be irresponsible to say that both players are now a lock to make the team following final cuts, things continue to trend in that direction thanks to their on-field performance and the availability of other options on the outside.
With one exhibition game remaining on Philadelphia's preseason schedule, Smith and Cooper, especially, would be wise to bring the best version of themselves to the field. It could be the determining factor on whether one or both of the wideouts crack the final 53-man roster.