Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is focusing on the positives. Following a 24-20 win in Thursday's season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys, Sirianni wasn't interested in discussing wide receiver A.J. Brown's quiet start to the season, instead drawing attention to Jahan Dotson's strong game.
Jahan Dotson May Have Finally Found a Home In Philadelphia
A 2022 first-round pick (No. 16 overall), Dotson spent his first two seasons with the division-rival Washington Commanders before the Eagles acquired him and a 2025 fifth-round pick in August 2024 for a 2025 third and two sevenths.
He played a minor role last season, finishing 2024 with 19 receptions for 216 yards
Dotson came up big on Thursday against the Cowboys, most notably on a 3rd-and-6 late in the second half when he hauled in a 51-yard catch, helping set up a go-ahead touchdown.
Dotson caught all three of his targets for a team-high 59 yards, and Sirianni spoke highly of his effort afterward while downplaying Brown's disappearing act.
Per NFL Pro, Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, wasn't targeted on his first 22 routes and didn't receive his first until after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. Brown ended the game with one reception for eight yards. It was his fewest yards in a game since Nov. 11, 2023, when he was also held to eight yards on one reception against the Kansas City Chiefs.
"I get it. You ask a lot of the negatives," Sirianni said during his postgame news conference. (h/t Zach Berman)
"But man, there were some positives, too. Jahan, that is such a huge ability to have when you have other guys that they're keying in on," Sirianni added.
"Again, I know the story will be A.J. only got one target ... but how about Jahan Dotson, who played a heck of a game," the Super Bowl LIX-winning coach continued.
If Dotson builds on his Week 1 performance, the Eagles' passing attack will be hard to stop. As Sirianni noted, defenses are likely to focus on preventing Brown from getting the ball, which opens up opportunities for auxiliary players such as Dotson to make a difference.
As he builds a rapport with quarterback Jalen Hurts, Dotson might be able to carve out a more prominent role in the passing offense, at least to the point where he receives more than three targets per game.
With DeVonta Smith, who had three receptions for 16 yards against Dallas, also commanding defensive attention, Dotson should get plenty of advantageous matchups.
Based on Thursday's opener, Dotson is ready to make the most out of them.