The Philadelphia Eagles have an NFC contest against the Chicago Bears on Black Friday. This is the Eagles' first chance to take away the sour taste of the loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12. This game won't be easy either, as the Bears have won four straight games and have their hearts set on ending their playoff drought.
Beating the Bears could be even tougher as receiver DeVonta Smith wasn't at practice on Wednesday due to a chest/shoulder injury (h/t @DZangaroNBCS). This was his second straight DNP, which isn't ideal since the game takes place on Friday.
With it clear that Smith is less than 100%, the Eagles will need to lean on the oft-quiet Jahan Dotson more in the contest, and it will help carve out a spot for him on the roster beyond the 2025 season.
Jahan Dotson's Eagles Outlook Will Hinge on Week 13 vs. Bears
There's no indication of whether Smith will play, but the Eagles will have to see what Dotson can do for them. If the "Slim Reaper" is inactive, the Bears will zero in on fellow star WR A.J. Brown and likely double-team him to take the star out of the game.
That would create more 1-on-1 coverage for Dotson, allowing him to have some favorable matchups. Over the last two seasons, Dotson hasn't been able to carve out a huge role for himself, but with no other players walking through the door, Philadelphia will have to rely on the guys in the building.
In 28 career games with Philadelphia (11 starts), Dotson has tallied 29 catches for 410 receiving yards and one score. Although he hasn't had many chances to make plays in 2025, he has made the most of the passes thrown his way. Over 18 targets, he reeled in 10 catches for 194 receiving yards (19.4 yards per catch). Head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo might be wise to take advantage of Dotson's big-play ability.
It's no secret that Philadelphia likes to use him as a downfield threat, and he's been able to make some plays for the Eagles. And for this outing, he may have been asked to step it up. The Eagles' offense needs to come out ready to roll in this contest, and they will want everyone to bring their best foot forward.
Dotson is third on the team in receiver total snaps (353), with the next closest WR snaps being 47 by Darius Cooper. It's no secret who the WR3 in this offense is, but based on Smith's availability, Dotson could be elevated to WR2 versus the Bears. And a good performance could put him in the good graces of the coaching staff and management, potentially even extending his stay in the City of Brotherly Love.