Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson (83) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 in Philadelphia.
Since joining the Eagles this past August, wide receiver Jahan Dotson has demonstrated patience. Dotson has to share targets with star wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, so he doesn’t get many passes thrown his way.
Coming into Week 18, Dotson only had 12 catches for 122 yards, and he scored zero touchdowns this season . After the Eagles traded a third-round pick to the Washington Commanders to get Dotson, most expected him to make a big contribution. But has been considered one of the team’s biggest disappointments this season due to his lack of production, and some people believe he’s not a good player.
In the Eagles’ 20-13 win over the New York Giants on Sunday, Dotson proved he can still be a good NFL wide receiver and be one of the top options for Philadelphia’s passing offense if needed. Against a New York secondary that has played well this year, he amassed a season-high seven catches for 94 yards — nearly matching his numbers from the first 17 weeks.
Dotson, a 2022 first-round pick, has never stopped believing in himself even though he hasn’t gotten many opportunities with the Eagles. After a quiet regular season, he could make a bigger impact in the playoffs, starting next weekend against the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round of the NFC Playoffs.
“Just really relying on the people around me (is how I stayed patient),” Dotson told reporters after the game. “I know the type of player I am. I know I can make plays. Whenever my opportunity is called upon, I know I’m ready for it.”
Dotson consistently got open for second-year quarterback Tanner McKee, including when he picked up two first-downs on the Eagles’ second touchdown drive, which gave them a 17-3 lead over the Giants early in the fourth quarter. He also made plays after the catch, including at the end of the first half when he juked Giants cornerback Adoree Jackson’ and made him slip on a missed tackle.
In the second quarter, Dotson also caught a 19-yard pass near the right sideline on third-and-15, advancing the ball to Philadelphia’s 49-yard line. To cap off that drive, kicker Jake Elliott made a 24-yard field goal, giving the Eagles a 10-0 lead before halftime.
Dotson’s teammates were not surprised that he played well against the Giants. Each week, they have seen him work hard at practice and be an unselfish teammate.
“Jahan has been even-keeled all year,” Eagles rookie wide receiver Johnny Wilson said. “He never complains, never presses for the ball.”
During practices, Dotson “runs dudes” out of the way on run plays and sprints 30 to 40 yards down the field at full speed on passing plays, Wilson said. Second-year backup cornerback Kelee Ringo and Dotson have motivated each other when they have felt discouraged.
“People forget (Jahan) was a first-round pick. I am super proud of him,” Ringo said. “We have those talks all the time. He knows what he’s capable of. Those conversations just help us continue to grow and just stay consistent with whatever we do. It’s a hard job out here.”
During his first two seasons (2018-2019) at Penn State, Dotson was not the go-to-guy for their offense. He only finished with 13 catches as a freshman and with 27 catches as a sophomore. In his final two seasons with the Nittany Lions, Dotson emerged into a star, especially during his senior season (2021) when he finished with 1,182 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
Dotson believes he could have more success with the Eagles in future seasons, similar to how he broke out at Penn State. So that’s why he’s not been frustrated with being the odd-man-out on the Eagles’ offense this year.
He has learned from Brown and Smith, which has helped him improve his receiving skills. His mindset has gotten stronger, too.
“Especially my mental head space, keeping a clear mind on a day-to-day basis,” Dotson said about where he’s grown the most with the Eagles.
The Eagles only played a few starters against the Giants, including Dotson, tight end Dallas Goedert and defensive tackle Jordan Davis. Dotson said he was excited to play and be the No. 1 option on offense with Brown and Smith out, but the younger version of himself would have wanted to sit out.
Dotson won’t receive many targets during the playoffs, taking a back seat to Brown and Smith again. But he showed against the Giants that he’s capable of a lot more.
“We’ve had a lot of faith in Jahan since the moment he got here,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “There is a reason why we traded for him. So, I’ve got a lot of faith in him and the player he is. Now, he has to share targets with some other guys that are really outstanding players. That’s just the way it goes sometimes. It gives you a lot of faith that he was able to contribute today and do the thing he is capable of today.”
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