The Green Bay Packers moved on from running back AJ Dillon in free agency, and he quickly found a new opportunity with the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Dillon was expected to take the No. 2 job behind All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley, but that's looking increasingly unlikely.
Dillon enters Eagles training camp with everything to prove, as various reporters suggest he isn't even guaranteed to make the 53-man roster.
"AJ Dillon continues to be a question mark," said Josh Davis of The Philly Special Show.
Davis noted that second-year running back Will Shipley "was heavily involved in the passing game" during the team's offseason program. Dillon can contribute as a receiver, but it's not his strength.
He could face an uphill battle to make the Eagles' roster. Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice had Dillon failing to make the 53 in his predictions earlier this offseason.
Shipley is projected to take the No. 2 job in Philadelphia, but where does that leave Dillon?
The former second-round pick quickly became a fan favorite in Green Bay, and he showed promise as a rookie with a 124-yard, two-touchdown performance in a snowy Lambeau Field. However, Dillon rarely replicated that performance.
Former Packers running back AJ Dillon is far from a roster lock with Eagles this summer
Dillon struggled in 2023, averaging a career-low 3.4 yards per carry. The Packers drafted Dillon to win in short-yardage situations and consistently break tackles, but that's an area where he lacked consistency that season.
The Packers brought him back on a team-friendly deal in 2024, but Dillon suffered a season-ending injury in August and later departed in free agency.
The hope for Dillon is that he can get back to his tackle-breaking best. He could find success behind a dominant Eagles offensive line and give them yet another short-yardage option alongside the almost unstoppable Tush Push.
But Dillon has to prove he can still make that impact. It's where he struggled in 2023, rarely breaking through initial contact. According to Pro Football Focus, Dillon averaged 2.69 yards after contact per attempt, which ranked 42nd among 59 running backs.
The positive? In 2021, Dillon's 3.14 yards after contact per attempt ranked 17th. That's the level the Eagles need him to get back to.
The former second-round pick enters a crucial summer.