Dontayvion Wicks proves Sirianni right after hot Eagles start
Nick Sirianni knew the Eagles had something in Dontayvion Wicks before the wide receiver even arrived in Philadelphia. The coach said tape study and feedback from former Packers staff drove Howie Roseman’s aggressive trade, and Wicks has backed that up with back-to-back 70-yard games as the Eagles’ No. 2 receiver.
Key Takeaways
- Sirianni said the Eagles identified Wicks’ potential on tape before he joined the team, which is why Roseman pushed the Packers trade and extension through 2027.
- Through two games, Wicks has 7 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown, including consecutive 70-plus-yard outings for the first time in his NFL career.
- Jalen Hurts credits scheme familiarity from Green Bay plus early chemistry work for Wicks hitting the ground running behind DeVonta Smith.
- Packers coverage notes the trade looks costly after Wicks’ hot Philly start and Green Bay’s early receiver-room issues.
Why did Nick Sirianni trust Dontayvion Wicks so early?
Speaking ahead of the Eagles’ trip to Chicago, Sirianni said the evaluation started before Wicks stepped into the building. The staff watched the tape, then checked the person with people who knew him in Green Bay.
“That’s why Howie was aggressive to go and get him, because we saw the potential of what he could be,” Sirianni told NBC Sports Philadelphia. He praised Wicks’ physicality, contested-catch skill, route explosiveness, and daily competitiveness.
Former Packers assistants Sean Mannion and Ryan Mahaffey helped confirm what the film already showed. That homework, Sirianni said, meant early production was no surprise once Wicks started doing the things Philadelphia had projected.
How has Dontayvion Wicks performed through two games?
In Week 1, Wicks caught 2 of 4 targets for 73 yards and a touchdown. In Week 2 against Tennessee, he hauled in 5 of 6 targets for 74 yards. Combined, that is 7 receptions for 147 yards.
It is the first time in his career, which began in 2023, that he has posted back-to-back 70-plus-yard games. He is also the first player to open a season with 70-plus receiving yards in each of the first two games as a first-time Eagle since DeSean Jackson’s rookie year in 2008, and the first veteran to do so since Donte’ Stallworth in 2006.
Fantasy and matchup notes have flagged him as Philadelphia’s clear No. 2 behind Smith, citing target share, yards after the catch efficiency, and big-play bursts. With Dallas Goedert dealing with a knee injury, Week 3 opportunity against Chicago was expected to grow further.
Hurts said Wicks is “thinking less” because the offense resembles what he ran in Green Bay, and that shared reps have built trust in body language and role. Rookie Makai Lemon has already used him as an on-field resource for scheme details.
Why are Packers fans second-guessing the Wicks trade?
Green Bay parted with Wicks while reshaping its receiver room. Early returns in Philadelphia have fueled regret talk: Wicks has been one of the more consistent explosive threats for an Eagles attack that otherwise has not piled up chunk plays.
With A.J. Brown gone, targets are more available in a spread-it-around attack, and Wicks has seized the complementary role. His willingness to block and compete without forcing the ball also fits what Philadelphia valued when it dealt for him.
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Through two weeks, Sirianni’s pre-arrival conviction looks justified. Dontayvion Wicks has already earned Hurts’ confidence, helped younger teammates, and given Philly a proven No. 2 option while the Packers debate what they gave away.