The Eagles didn’t exactly make noise when they brought in Dontayvion Wicks back in April. Most of the conversation centered on A.J.
Brown and what Philadelphia might be preparing for down the road. Lost in that noise was the chance that Wicks could become a real difference-maker right away.
Two weeks into the season, that possibility looks a lot more like reality.
Philadelphia sent a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to Green Bay for Wicks, then followed that move with a contract extension worth $12.5 million for the 2027 season. At the time, that kind of investment raised eyebrows because Wicks had spent three seasons in Green Bay as mostly a supporting piece after arriving as a 2023 fifth-round pick.
So far, though, the return has been loud.
In the Eagles’ 2-0 start, Wicks has caught seven of 10 targets for 147 yards. He hit the Commanders for a 64-yard grab and a touchdown in Week 1, then followed that up in Week 2 against Tennessee by turning all five of his catches into first downs in pressure moments.
He’s been exactly the kind of receiver Philadelphia needed him to be: sharp in his routes, tough at the catch point and clean with the football. He hasn’t dropped a pass yet, and he’s already earned Jalen Hurts’ trust. That connection started building in training camp when DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon missed time with hamstring injuries, and Wicks made the most of those extra reps with the franchise quarterback.
For the price of a couple Day 3 picks, that’s a strong early return.
The numbers put Wicks in some interesting company, too. His 147 receiving yards are tied with Justin Jefferson for 15th among NFL wideouts.
Most of the receivers ahead of him were first-round picks, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, Ceedee Lamb, Tetairoa McMillan, DeVonta Smith, Matthew Golden and Zay Flowers. Others are veterans making at least $20 million per year, such as Davante Adams, Amon-Ra St.
Brown, Christian Watson and Tee Higgins.
The only players above Wicks who fit a similar low-cost lane are Carolina’s Jalen Coker, an undrafted free agent from 2024 who signed a three-year, $35 million deal; Jacksonville’s Parker Washington, a 2023 sixth-round pick who is likely headed for a big payday; and Cleveland’s Denzel Boston, a 2026 second-round pick.
No one is pretending Wicks is on the same tier as the biggest names in the group. Philadelphia would take most of those receivers over him without hesitation. But for a team that believes DeVonta Smith can handle the WR1 job after Brown, Wicks has already given them quality WR2 production at a bargain price.
That matters even more for a roster built around paying its young defense.
The only question now is whether Wicks can keep it going. The Commanders and Titans are one thing. The tougher secondaries waiting later on the schedule will tell the rest of the story.
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Eagles May Not Have To Wait Long For Zach Ertz's Return
Injuries have quickly pushed the Eagles back into familiar territory at tight end, and Zach Ertz is suddenly part of the conversation again. Philadelphia brought him onto the practice squad after the position got hit by injuries, giving the veteran a chance to re-enter a room that could use some stability as the team moves toward Week 3.
Nick Sirianni said he was excited to have Ertz back, but the timing of a possible game appearance remains unsettled. The Eagles are expected to see how he looks in practice before deciding whether he can be available against the Chicago Bears, leaving his return to Sundays roster as one of the more intriguing details to track this week. [Read more 🡒]