Brian Mitchell could maintain the NFL document for kickoff return yards, however it doesn’t sound like the previous Eagle holds the staff’s new receiver in excessive regard.
On Thursday, Philadelphia traded a third-round decide and two seventh-round picks to the Commanders for Jahan Dotson and a fifth-round decide. Dotson upset because the sixteenth total decide within the 2022 NFL draft with 1,041 yards over two seasons, however as a No. 3 receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, the Eagles imagine Dotson may do effectively in 2024.
Not so quick, in accordance with Mitchell, who spent 10 years in Washington and hosts the “BMitch & Finlay Show” on 106.7 The Fan in D.C. As a latest visitor on the “Ike, Spike and Fritz Show” on Philadelphia’s WIP FM, the previous operating again provided a scathing assessment of Dotson’s time with the Commanders.
“Nicely, he’s a younger man who confirmed in his rookie season that he can truly play some soccer,” Mitchell mentioned. “However final yr, he didn’t have yr, after which this yr, I believe he misplaced a few of his confidence. He mentioned it to a number of reporters that, you already know, ‘I received to get my confidence again.'”
Dotson noticed 22 extra targets final yr than in 2021 however completed with solely 5 extra yards and three fewer touchdowns whereas averaging 4.3 much less yards per catch, a middling effort Mitchell appears to really feel Dotson carried into coaching camp.
“On this camp, I didn’t see him competing like I ought to see him competing,” Mitchell mentioned. “I noticed him moping somewhat bit. I made a remark final week or so and I mentioned, ‘You’ve received folks on the market appearing like they presupposed to be given a job and their physique language is off.’ He was one of many guys I used to be (speaking about).”
Thankfully for Dotson, the bar for the Eagles’ No. 3 receiver is fairly low. Tight finish Dallas Goedert held the consideration with 1,294 yards from 2022-2023. The truth is, Philadelphia hasn’t had an precise extensive receiver end because the staff’s No. 3 receiver since Quez Watkins had 647 yards in 2021.
If Dotson wanted motivation, being traded to a division rival ought to do it. Now the staff must get him in control for its Week 1 matchup in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
