Before the good times roll, one Philadelphia Eagles newcomer could pack up before suiting up in the midnight green uniforms in the 2025 regular season.
After the Eagles saw the departure of former backup running back Kenneth Gainwell, the team signed former Green Bay Packer A.J. Dillon after spending five years with them. Dillon is expected to compete for the backup job behind Saquon Barkley. He will have to go up against Will Shipley and Avery Williams.
All that competition could make training camp challenging for Dillon to make the final roster. One prediction already puts his chances of making the roster to sleep after two months on the team.
Dillon's job is on the line entering OTAs and training camp
PhillyVoice Eagles reporter Jimmy Kempski shared his predictions of who he believes will make the final 53-man roster in his latest piece. Kempski sees Dillon on the outside as player 54.
"Beyond Shipley, the Eagles have Dillon, who they signed in free agency, but who also missed the entire 2024 season with a stinger. They also have a jack-of-all-trades guy in Williams, and a couple of UDFAs in Johnson and Powell."
The stinger Kempski wrote about happened on Dillon's neck, costing him the whole 2024 season. Before the injury, Dillon was a solid backup running back whose specialty was running up the middle of the line in short-yard situations.
Green Bay selected Dillon in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and became the perfect complementary piece to Aaron Jones. Quadzilla has rushed for 2,428 yards and 16 touchdowns in 60 games. He had three consecutive seasons between 2021 and 2023 during which he ran for at least 600 yards.
Shipley was third string on the Eagles' depth chart and was seen more as a return specialist. The former 2024 fourth-round pick now most likely steps into the backup role as the versatile back behind Barkley.
Dillon will have to go up against Williams as well as Montrell Johnson, ShunDerrick Powell, and Lew Nichols. Williams is Dillon's most significant competitor, with Williams having the advantage with his return game and how he could replace Shipley.
Read more:Saquon Barkley's perfect viral moment that will have Sixers immediately calling
One of the younger rookies on the team coming in could pull off an upset if they shine over Dillon. It's more likely though that Williams could steal a job away from Dillon through special teams.
Dillon is on a cheap one-year deal and is a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Eagles. He must prove early that his neck injury won't affect his game. If he can't show that, Dillon might be outside the Eagles' final roster and the NFL.