AJ Dillon wasted little time reminding the Green Bay Packers how good he can be.
Dillon struggled in his final full season with the Packers and then sat out all of last year due to injury, but he looked as good as ever in his Philadelphia Eagles debut on Thursday.
The former second-round pick only made a brief cameo, but that's all he needed. Dillon averaged 5.4 yards per carry on his five attempts while catching three passes for 27 yards. He totaled 52 yards on eight touches despite only featuring on 17 snaps.
AJ Dillon looked refreshed and ready to prove a point behind Eagles' offensive line in preseason debut
Dillon, who signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Eagles in free agency, made it look effortless on Thursday night. The Eagles' offensive line provided some wide-open rushing lanes, but Dillon made the most of them, including a cut that would've made Josh Jacobs proud.
It's one preseason game, and Dillon is in the midst of a tough competition with Will Shipley for snaps behind All-Pro Saquon Barkley, but he looked like a completely different player from his final season in Green Bay.
Dillon struggled as the Packers' RB2 in 2023, averaging a career-low 3.4 yards per attempt. Green Bay couldn't rely on him in short-yardage situations.
The Packers rebuilt their running back room around Josh Jacobs last season, with Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks providing quality support. They hope second-year MarShawn Lloyd will stay healthy and become the lightning to Jacobs' thunder.
Dillon needed a fresh start, and so did the Packers, but talk about making a statement in his first game.
The box score won't force anyone to double-take, but that's more a result of his lack of snaps than anything. Dillon making such a brief appearance shows the Eagles have confidence in him.
He benefits from playing behind arguably the league's best offensive line, and if Dillon can rediscover his tackle-breaking form from early in his career, he can thrive as the Eagles' backup. It's only the preseason, and Dillon still has a lot to prove. But the former Packers draft pick has quietly impressed at camp and looked back to his best in limited preseason action.
Intentional or not, it sends a clear message to the Packers, who seemingly had no interest in bringing him back in the spring.