Eagles-Buccaneers snap counts: Jahan Dotson is not producing despite playing a lot

The official snap counts from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 4 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in. Let’s take a look and run through some analysis.

OFFENSE

Jordan Mailata still hasn’t missed a snap since October 30, 2022.
Cam Jurgens missed some playing time due to cramps. Landon Dickerson shifted over to center with Tyler Steen coming in to play left guard.
Jahan Dotson led all Eagles pass-catchers in snaps played. Despite this, he only saw four targets that resulted in two catches for 11 yards. It’s just not good enough. Is Dotson really that bad? Does Jalen Hurts simply refuse to look his way? What’s going on here?

Over the past 10 seasons, 679 wide receivers ran at least 100 routes in their team’s first four games.

Jahan Dotson’s 0.19 yards per route run ranks 678th, just edging 2017 Breshad Perriman.

— Bo Wulf (@Bo_Wulf) September 30, 2024

Olamide Zaccheaus for the Commanders: 12 targets, 10 receptions, 114 yards

Jahan Dotson for the Eagles: 9 targets, 5 receptions, 25 yards

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) September 30, 2024

Parris Campbell caught all four of his targets … for just 17 yards (4.3 average, lol) and one touchdown. Campbell has six targets for six catches, 30 yards, and one touchdown in three games this season. That’s somehow more production than Dotson has accounted for in one additional game played.
Dallas Goedert made some good grabs but he had a bad drop early in the game.
Johnny Wilson saw two targets but did not log a catch. One of the passes thrown his way was behind him and then knocked out of his hands. Wilson left the game early due to a concussion.
Saquon Barkley only took 12 touches in this game. Not ideal from the standpoint of trying to win the game but the silver lining is that they spared him from some extra hits. Barkley was like the only player who came to play on offense with his 10 carries producing 84 yards and his two catches going for 32. That was 51.1% of the Eagles’ total yardage.
Grant Calcaterra and Jack Stoll saw more of an even split as the backup tight ends as opposed to Calcaterra being the clear TE2.
John Ross logged his first snaps and catch in an NFL game since 2021. He got a target after Wilson had to leave the game.
The single Ben VanSumeren snap is not a typo; the Eagles used him as a fullback early on. Will be interesting to see if they continue to experiment with him in that role.
Will Shipley played on the Eagles’ first offensive snap … and then only appeared on special teams the rest of the game.

DEFENSE

Kudos to Quinyon Mitchell for being able to handle the Florida heat and play the entire game.
Nakobe Dean played a lot and missed a lot of tackles.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson left the game early at the end, seemingly due to overheating.
Just way too many Avonte Maddox snaps in this game and this entire season. It’s time to see what Cooper DeJean has at nickel cornerback. DeJean can’t be much worse. And at least there’s the potential of him getting better over the course of the season.
Darius Slay got beat multiple times. He left the game at one point and got replaced by Isaiah Rodgers.
Jalen Carter seemed to get a lot of extra attention from the Bucs’ offensive line.
Tristin McCollum had to play a lot in a game against his twin brother’s team with Reed Blankenship leaving early due to illness.
Josh Sweat had a sack! His first in a regular season game since November 5, 2023. And now for another depressing Sweat stat:

Last 11 games

Barnett: 395 snaps played, 5.5 sacks, 11 TFLs, 14 QB hits

Josh Sweat: 518 snaps played, 2 sacks, 4 TFLs, 9 QB hits

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) September 30, 2024

Bryce Huff logged a solo tackle!!!!! He’s on the board!!!! He had no other stats outside of that one tackle.
Brandon Graham continues to bring it. He had a TFL and a sack.
Nolan Smith has zero TFLs, zero sacks, and zero QB hits this season.
Trevor Booker saw his highest snap count percentage this season. He led all Eagles defensive tackles with four total tackles (two solo). Maybe continue to play him more?
Jalyx Hunt played defensive snaps for the first time in his career. Ditto for Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Eli Ricks was active for the second time this season. He’s up to eight total special teams snaps played.
Not included in the preceding graphic: Nick Gates played two special teams snaps.

DID NOT PLAY
INACTIVE: Lane Johnson, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Devin White, Tanner McKee, Trevor Keegan, Byron Young

ACTIVE: Kenny Pickett, Darian Kinnard

Safe to say the Eagles really missed A.J., DeVonta, and Lane. That being said, the offense still should’ve played better than it did. Those absences don’t totally justify opening the game with three-and-outs on four of the first five drives. 12 plays for zero total yards on those drives.
White isn’t going to be on this roster much longer, is he?
Kinnard was active for the first time this season with Lane out. Clearly just for emergency depth, though.