What is going on with Commanders receiver Jahan Dotson?
Dotson played 32 offensive snaps against the Jets. What’s the big deal? According to the coaches, receivers Terry McLaurin and Olamide Zaccheaus only needed 11 and 10 snaps, respectively.
It’s no secret that Dotson has not produced as a player drafted 16th overall in a draft as expected. It is also no secret that general manager Adam Peters paused when asked about the roster he inherited, then replied that there were some good cornerstone players and that there was much work to be done.
The new staff wanted to see Dotson putting in more work. Might it be because coaches wanted to see him in the slot receiver role?
The Team 980 drive-home host, Craig Hoffman, went a step further on Monday. Hoffman suggested an issue might be that Peters had seen his receivers in San Francisco (Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel) be very tough, very aggressive receivers. Hoffman pointed to a deep route by Dotson, where he was easily rerouted by the Jets defensive back.
“I don’t think Jahan is weak-minded or anything. You have to learn the tools to ultimately fight through that stuff, and he hasn’t yet. Yes, there’s the weightlifting part of getting physically stronger…but it’s also him working with Bobby Engram in the position group to understand how to fight through some of that stuff.”
Proceeding one step further, Hoffman then asked, “For Jahan, I wonder if he fits what they want, and if not, he could fit better somewhere else…Dan Quinn and Adam Peters are trying to build their version of the Commanders. So, if someone came with a good offer for Jahan Dotson, it would not surprise me for a second if they were like, that’s good; we’ll take the draft capital.”
Hoffman was quite clear he was not reporting anything, nor had he talked to anyone about Dotson being traded.
So, are Peters and Quinn unsatisfied with what they have observed from Dotson? This week’s second preseason game against the Dolphins might reveal more to us.
