Eagles Notebook: WR Jahan Dotson expected to play larger role in offense
Also: a look at key position battles
From The Reporter/MediaNews Group: https://tinyurl.com/mryj2237
PHILADELPHIA — Last summer was a whirlwind for wide receiver Jahan Dotson. The Eagles acquired him from Washington on Aug. 22, and he barely had a chance to get his feet wet before the season started.
It ended up being a not-so-memorable season in terms of his individual stats.
Dotson had a pair of catches in the Super Bowl victory in New Orleans, and he showed a few flashes of his ability throughout the year — including an acrobatic, 36-yard catch against Jacksonville (otherwise known as Saquon Barkley’s “reverse hurdle” game). But overall, he never got a chance to shine, finishing with just 19 receptions for 216 yards.
What a difference a year makes.
Dotson, the former Nazareth High School and Penn State star, has had an impressive camp. In last week’s preseason opener against Cincinnati, he had a pair of catches for 27 yards and consistently got open wherever he lined up. Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has noticed his dramatic improvement.
“He’s a really good route runner,” Patullo said. “That’s the one thing when you put the tape on or you watch him in person, his route running ability is really dynamic. And I think his maturity of just being around the other guys, you can start to feel him in different ways in the offense.
“I think what he’s shown too is you can move him around. I don’t know necessarily if we knew that when we first got him, but now he’s in a spot where we can put him anywhere and we feel confident. So I think his game has grown tremendously from that standpoint.”
The Commanders drafted Dotson 16th overall out of Penn State in 2022, before dealing him and a fifth-round pick for a conditional third-rounder and two seventh-rounders. Compared to a year ago, his chemistry with quarterback Jalen Hurts is like night and day.
“I think we’ll continue to build and continue to work through things,” Hurts said. “He came in … in a unique situation, given it was right before the season, and so I had never thrown to him. He’s become more suited and secure in his role, fitted in his role, just learning and having those conversations. And even the time we spent in the offseason, I think that was very valuable time. Just the ongoing conversations as we continue to build our offense and find our identity as an offense, I think he’s a key part of that.”
Dotson now has extensive knowledge of the playbook, and he and Hurts worked together in Houston during the offseason to develop that chemistry and trust.
Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett once again showed why he’s an all-time great in the second joint practice between the Eagles and Browns on Thursday, giving fits to Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata and absolutely taking over the competition. He reached Hurts in the backfield on nearly every passing play.
“There’s no one like Myles,” Mailata said. “You can’t apply what Myles does to anyone else. He’s just a freak. … I did my job, and yet, I still got beat. How is that even possible? How is he still down around one of my knees and he’s still bending the corner? He starts the rush in a four-point stance, and by the time he’s four yards up-field, he’s still at that same height. It’s kind of like, ‘What am I supposed to do there? Just jump on him? He’ll just carry me to the QB.”
The rest of the Eagles’ O-line getting first-team reps consisted of Brett Toth at left guard, center Cam Jurgens, right guard Tyler Steen and Matt Pryor at right tackle.
Patullo didn’t appear to make many adjustments in protection, so it was difficult to assess the Birds’ first-team passing game, which barely got off the ground. Aside from a couple of nice catches by Dotson and DeVonta Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert was a bright spot, securing a short outlet pass and then plowing his way 12 yards down the left sideline.
Undrafted rookie wideout Darius Cooper, who had six catches for 82 yards and a score against Cincinnati last week, had a pair of receptions on a crossing pattern and a slant.
With inside linebacker Zack Baun still limited, both Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jihaad Campbell got first-team snaps again. Browns tight end Harold Fannin and receiver Jerry Jeudy burned the Eagles on multiple plays, including Jeudy beating Quinyon Mitchell. Jamari Thrash also beat Cooper DeJean for a touchdown from the slot. The Birds’ run defense was solid most of the day.
With nearly five weeks of training camp in the books and three weeks until the Eagles open the season against the Dallas Cowboys, some key position battles are beginning to shake out. The following is a snapshot of where things stand now.
Free safety (next to Reed Blankenship):
1. Sydney Brown
2. Andrew Mukuba
3. Tristin McCollum
Brown, who missed the first five games of last season recovering from ACL surgery, began to get some defensive snaps late in the year while mostly playing special teams. He’s the frontrunner for the starting spot, but Mukuba and McCollum could see plenty of rotational action. Second-round rookie Mukuba missed time early in camp while recovering from a shoulder injury, so the Birds haven’t gotten a thorough look at him yet.
Inside linebacker (alongside Zack Baun):
1. Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
2. Jihaad Campbell
3. Smael Mondon Jr.
Many analysts presumed first-round rookie Campbell would take the job, but Trotter has said, “Not so fast!” with his performance in camp. But the competition isn’t over, and Campbell seems to be hitting his stride. Obviously, Nakobe Dean (patellar tendon) will return from the IL at some point, but it could take him a while to work his way back into a starting role.
Outside corner (opposite Quinyon Mitchell):
1. Adoree’ Jackson
2. Kelee Ringo
3. Jakorian Bennett
4. Mac McWilliams
This one is still a pick ‘em. No one has emerged. In fairness to Bennett, he only arrived last week and didn’t see the field until last Saturday, so he’s still getting acclimated to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s system. But this position is easily the Birds’ biggest area of concern. The fact Ringo just turned 23 in June could work in his favor, since he may have more room for growth than the veteran Jackson, who turns 30 next month.
NOTES: Eagles WR A.J. Brown (hamstring), S Lewis Cine (groin), LG Landon Dickerson (knee), G Kenyon Green (shoulder) and RT Lane Johnson (rest) did not practice. … Limited were Baun (back contusion), WR Elijah Cooks (shoulder) and Barkley (rest). … Dickerson, wearing a knee brace, provided post-practice beers to the Eagles’ and Browns’ offensive linemen. … Browns QB Shedeur Sanders (oblique) is unlikely to play in Saturday’s Eagles/Browns preseason game. Kickoff at the Linc is at 1 p.m., airing on NBC 10 and NFL Network, plus 94.1-WIP FM.
—
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.