Eagles Second-Year WR Shocks Camp by Earning WR2 Role Next to A.J. Brown

In a wide receiver room full of speed, size, and veteran savvy, one of the most talked-about names at Eagles Camp didn’t make headlines for a flashy catch or viral highlight—but for quietly earning the trust of the coaching staff when it mattered most.

When the updated depth chart dropped this week, fans expected the usual names up top. A.J. Brown? Locked in. DeVonta Smith? No doubt. But it was the WR2 slot that stopped everyone cold. Not Cooks. Not Marshall. Not Dotson. Someone else had risen.

The surprise? A wideout who had spent most of camp under heavy scrutiny—for effort, for focus, for intensity. Just weeks ago, he was on the bubble. Now, he’s lining up with the starters.

Once seen as a high-upside project, Johnny Wilson struggled early in camp with consistency and energy. But quietly, he’s turned things around. Coaches have praised his response to criticism, his ability to battle through reps, and his willingness to own every snap. It didn’t go unnoticed.

“I heard the talk. I saw the looks. But I didn’t come here to fade out,” Wilson said. “This team? It’s built different. You show up or you get left. I’m not here to get left—I’m here to help bring Philly its third ring.”

Wilson now sits ahead of both Elijah Cooks—who’s had a solid camp—and veteran Terrace Marshall Jr. Sources say the decision came down to one thing: who brought it every day.

For an Eagles offense stacked with stars, one thing is clear: no one’s spot is guaranteed. And for Johnny Wilson, the journey back into the light might be the story fans didn’t see coming—but the locker room did.