Revisiting the Eagles 2020 wide receiver room

Today’s Philadelphia Eagles are blessed with talent, and that especially applies to the receiver room. Ultimately, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith could be considered two of the best receivers in franchise history. — they are part of the team at the same time.

Just before these two arrived, the Eagles were in a terrible situation when it came to their wide receiver room. The 2020 Birds were the worst example of this on the talent front, leading to a horrible 4-11-1 record. Let’s take a look at all its members.

Travis Fulgham – 539 yards

The 2020 season was the only time Travis Fulgham, a practice squad starter, led the Eagles in receiving yards. At age 25, he had one of the most improbable seasons in team history with 539 air yards. He didn’t have a single reception in his NFL career before that.

In week five, he had the game of his life. In an eventual 38-29 loss to a Pittsburgh Steelers team that would win its first 11 games, he had 10 catches on 13 targets for 152 yards and a touchdown. From Week 4 to Week 9, he totaled 435 receiving yards and four touchdowns in just five games.

After this period of excellence for Fulgham, things calmed down. He now plays in the Canadian Football League (CFL). With all due respect to him and his value, him being the best receiver on the team is exactly why they won four games. This shows how far the Eagles have come in such a short time.

Greg Ward – 419 yards

Greg Ward’s time with the Eagles was short but somewhat memorable. Despite only reaching a career-high 419 yards through the air with six touchdowns, the college quarterback turned NFL wide receiver had his defining moments.

Ward’s history is pretty healthy, having been the subject of a few looks with the Eagles after being released by them in 2018. Fun fact, he was actually on the practice squad when the Eagles won the Super Bowl LII.

Jalen Reagor – 396 yards

Now we come to one of the most despised players on the roster. Third in yards for the Eagles was Jalen Reagor, who had 396 during his rookie season. Infamously drafted in the first round of 2020 ahead of Justin Jefferson, who already has Offensive Player of the Year under his belt, Reagor has failed to live up to expectations.

For a little while, Reagor showed some flashes. Still, it didn’t take long for the Eagles to realize his potential was basically zero. He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.

DeSean Jackson – 236 yards

DeSean Jackson’s second stint in Philadelphia could have been something special, but he was absolutely crushed by injury. From 2019 to 2020, he only played in eight games, but he had a 154-yard game against the Washington Commanders in the first week of 2019, finishing things off with a single catch of 81 yards for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.

Even though he was growing up, Jackson could still play by the time he went to the Eagles for the second time. His lack of health didn’t do the Eagles any favors, as he likely would have been their best receiver by far had he played all 16 games.

John Hightower – 167 yards

Next up is former fifth-round pick John Hightower on this list. 2020 was the only time in his career he caught as much as one pass, appearing in 13 games and totaling 167 yards to boot. Today, he plays in the United Football League (UFL) with the Michigan Panthers.

Alshon Jeffery – 115 yards

For how important Alshon Jeffery is to the Eagles franchise, it’s a shame he ended his tenure in Philadelphia so poorly. He played in only seven games, scoring one touchdown and passing for 115 yards on 13 targets.

Although Jeffery never had a 1,000-yard season with the Eagles, he played a vital role in their Super Bowl victory in 2017. After his famous loss to the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs, he was never the same again.

Quez Watkins – 106 yards

Of all the players mentioned so far, Quez Watkins was the only one to last at least two more seasons in Philadelphia after 2020. He was an Eagle through 2023, signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. He had a game-high 647 yards and a touchdown in 2021, so he was one of the few Eagle draft picks here who lived up to his potential. Selected in the sixth round, he had a decent tenure in Philadelphia, but of course, that’s overshadowed a bit by one play in particular.

JJ Arcega-Whiteside – 85 yards

JJ Arcega-Whiteside was another one of those patented Howie Roseman busts he took in the middle of the Carson Wentz era. Drafted in the second round in 2019, he simply never lived up to his potential and now finds himself in the CFL.

Deontay Burnett – 19 meters

For the last Eagles receiver to catch a pass in 2020, Deontay Burnett finds himself last on the list. He was an undrafted free agent after the 2018 NFL Draft, having worked with the Tennesse Titans, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. He had five catches in Philadelphia for 67 yards during his entire tenure.

If you ever want to complain about the Eagles’ struggles again, just remember how bad it was not that long ago. The lack of talent on offense was unbearable at times, but they now seem to have that under control.

All we can do now is wonder how things got this bad; Fulgham, Ward and Reagor were their top three wide receivers in terms of yardage.