As competition heats up in Eagles training camp, star receiver A.J. Brown is throwing his support behind a newcomer who could shake up the depth chart.
The Eagles are back at work, and with training camp officially underway, the tone in Philadelphia is competitive-and loud. This is what happens when a Super Bowl champion returns with much of its core intact and a handful of hungry newcomers all fighting for a shot.
The stakes? Put simply: a roster spot on one of the most talented depth charts in football.
While the top of the wide receiver room is carved in stone-A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith remain arguably the most explosive 1-2 punch in the league-the rest of that group could look pretty different by the time Week 1 arrives.
And if you needed proof that nothing is guaranteed after those two, just ask A.J. Brown himself.
The Eagles star is sending a strong message inside the facility: training camp is a proving ground, and everyone needs to earn their keep.
Enter Terrace Marshall.
Brown had high praise for the newly acquired wideout following the first day of camp, and he didn’t sound like someone casually offering encouragement. Brown’s message was clear: this guy’s coming, and he’s going to make some noise.
“He’s coming along quite well, honestly,” Brown said of Marshall. “Even in the spring, he was making a lot of catches. I know you guys didn’t see it, but he’s going to make the room very uncomfortable, and that’s a great thing.”
Uncomfortable might be music to the ears of coaches, but it puts a spotlight on the battle brewing beneath the surface of the receiver depth chart. Because behind Brown and Smith, the competition is wide open.
Jahan Dotson, acquired from Washington via trade last August, is still looking to make good on his first-round pedigree. His 2024 season was largely quiet: 19 catches, 216 yards, no touchdowns.
Nearly half of that came in one game-the season finale against a depleted Giants defense. Not exactly the kind of consistent production the Eagles are looking for in a reliable WR3.
Then you’ve got Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson, 2024 rookies taken in the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively. Both flashed late last season-again, mostly when the stakes were low and the starters rested.
Smith registered seven grabs for 41 yards and a touchdown. Wilson pitched in with five for 38 and another score.
Good signs from young guys, sure-but not locks to make the team if someone like Marshall pushes his way up the depth chart.
And that’s exactly what Marshall appears ready to do.
The Eagles picked him up after stints with Carolina, San Francisco, and Las Vegas-a journey that included time on practice squads and little impact in the stat sheet. Just three catches for 41 yards in 2024.
Not eye-popping numbers, but Philly isn’t new to reclamation projects. They’ve struck gold with guys like Mekhi Becton before, and the buzz around Marshall suggests they could be staring down another unexpected gem.
Brown’s support matters here. He’s not a player who hands out compliments lightly, and his vote of confidence means Marshall’s doing something right behind the scenes.
It also turns up the urgency for everyone behind Smith on the WR depth chart. One way or another, somebody’s spot is in jeopardy.
Training camp always separates the contenders from the passengers. In Philadelphia, with a roster good enough to defend a title, there’s no room for comfort zones-just competition.
And players like Terrace Marshall? They’re here to shake things up.
This wide receiver battle isn’t just a side note-it may be one of the most compelling storylines of Eagles camp.