A quick glance at Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson’s stats from his rookie season and one thing stands out.
Despite missing five games — and being limited in others — due to a hamstring injury, Dotson still led the Commanders with seven touchdowns receptions. Overall, Dotson caught 35 passes for 523 yards, averaging 14.9 yards per reception.
This was in an offense that had a severely limited passing game with Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke at quarterback. New offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy aims to change that in 2023.
Bieniemy’s goal is simple: to put the ball in the hands of his playmakers.
That means you could Dotson everywhere in Washington’s offense. Dotson spoke to the media this week and praised Bieniemy and the accountability he’s brought to the Commanders.
If Dotson can remain healthy in 2023, could he be on the verge of superstardom? Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports recently named 16 NFC players who are currently under the radar on a national level.
What did he say about Dotson?
Dotson had an impressive rookie season in 2022, despite playing with three different quarterbacks. Establishing himself as a deep-ball receiver, Dotson finished with 35 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns — as his 14.9 yards per catch was fourth highest in the NFC.
Dotson tied Christian Watson for first in touchdown catches amongst rookies and was second in yards per catch among rookies (minimum 50 targets). Playing next to terry McLaurin will help Dotson make a big leap in 2023.
If Sam Howell can stabilize the quarterback position for the Commanders, that’s good news for everyone, particularly Dotson and McLaurin.