Jalen Hurts Makes Strong Statement on Dontayvion Wicks After Eagles Practice

0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The WR3 battle with the Philadelphia Eagles remains one of the hottest camp competitions in the NFL right now. After trading All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown in June, DeVonta Smith is expected to take over as the team's leading receiver, with first-round rookie Makai Lemon locking down the No. 2 spot. The Eagles also signed Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, a former 1,000-yard receiver with the Baltimore Ravens, to a one-year deal in March. It's natural to assume he'd slot in cleanly next to Smith and Lemon to give quarterback Jalen Hurts another steady, reliable third option.

But so far through camp, it's another name making headlines: Dontayvion Wicks. Wicks reportedly had another strong practice Wednesday, connecting with Hurts on multiple occasions, including a deep shot downfield that he hauled in while flanked by two defensive backs. Hurts spoke highly of the 25-year-old receiver afterward, saying he's " trying to beat down the door " for extra reps in the receiver room.

"When you talk about adversity, you learn a lot about the guys around you this time of camp. It's humid, it's sticky, it's hot. You see who's got that anger to them, who's got a little bit of rage in them, for the best," Hurts said. "He's got it. That's exciting to see."

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Wicks was a fifth-round pick in 2023 out of Virginia and spent his first three NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Over that span, he racked up 1,328 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 108 receptions, averaging 12.3 yards per catch across 46 games — modest numbers on the surface, but he was also playing behind Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Christian Watson, along with tight end Tucker Kraft, and never got a real opportunity to shine.

In Philadelphia, there's a clear opening after the Brown trade. Smith and Lemon have each missed multiple practices with injuries — neither believed to be serious — but their absences have opened the door for Wicks to build rapport with Hurts. That opportunity has helped him not only develop a strong connection with his quarterback, but earn high praise from the former Super Bowl MVP.

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