Johnny Wilson’s Size and Rehab Could Earn Him a Surprising Eagles Roster Spot

When the Philadelphia Eagles shipped A.J. Brown out of town, it didn’t just reshape their offense — it cracked open the door for a 6-foot-6 wide receiver who’s spent the last year recovering from double ankle and knee surgeries. Johnny Wilson, a sixth-round pick from 2024, might be the most forgotten piece of Philadelphia’s roster puzzle heading into 2026. And that might be exactly the position he wants to be in.

Wilson was a Super Bowl winner as a rookie, appearing in 16 games and starting four of them. His numbers — five catches for 38 yards and a touchdown — won’t blow anyone away. But then the 2025 season came and went without Wilson taking a snap. Knee and ankle surgeries wiped out his entire year, and with Brown’s departure dominating headlines, Wilson slipped out of public conversation entirely.

The Size Factor That Nobody Else Has

NBC Sports’ Reuben Frank expects Wilson to not only survive final cuts but earn a roster spot. “The Eagles were very high last summer on 6-foot-6 Johnny Wilson, who would have made the team if he hadn’t gotten hurt in camp,” Frank wrote. “His size, physicality and blocking ability set him apart from every other receiver on the roster.”

That point about blocking is key. Philadelphia has never been shy about using wide receivers who can detach from coverage and also seal a running lane. With Saquon Barkley still in the backfield and a run-first identity baked into the culture, Wilson’s ability to wall off defensive backs in the run game — combined with his red-zone catch radius — gives him a niche that smaller, faster receivers can’t replicate.

A Crowded Room With Clear Favorites

DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, and Hollywood Brown are considered locks for the roster, according to reports. That leaves Elijah Moore, Samori Toure, and Wilson among others competing for what could be the final one or two spots. “My money is on Wilson just because he has such an unusual skill set and frame,” Frank continued. “He’s different than anyone else, and Roseman values unique traits. With a good camp, I think he sticks.”

General manager Howie Roseman has long favored unconventional roster building — oversized receivers, hybrid linemen, specialists with weird backgrounds. Wilson fits that profile. If he shows he’s fully recovered from his surgeries, his size alone makes him a difficult cut.

Philadelphia’s passing attack is going to look different without Brown. The ball will have to spread around more. Predictability may decrease, but so will the explosive-play margin. If Frank’s prediction holds, expect to see Wilson involved in short-yardage and red-zone packages, where his wingspan becomes a problem for cornerbacks who can’t match up physically.

The Eagles open training camp in late July. Wilson will be one of the more intriguing storylines — a forgotten Super Bowl winner trying to prove he still belongs.