Commanders WR Jahan Dotson: 'It's My Breakout Year'

In his second season since being a first round NFL Draft pick of the Washington Commanders receiver Jahan Dotson is working to put himself on a wider map in 2023.

Washington Commanders receiver Jahan Dotson was on a Rookie of the Year pace before he lost five games to a hamstring injury suffered in a Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Upon his return Dotson took a few games to get fully up to speed again, but finished the year with 75 yards or more in three of his last four contests. 

In his second season, the expectation is that Dotson will take another step toward the top of Washington's offense and create a lethal receiving duo with established star Terry McLaurin.

"I think we right at the top," Dotson told 2nd Wind Podcast when asked about he and McLaurin being one of the top receiving duos in the NFL this season. "This year I feel like I gotta come crazy. It's my breakout year, it's what I've working hard for. I gotta make 'em feel me."

Throughout Dotson's recovery and return last year there was evidence of frustration that any competitor would experience having to sit out. 

But his confidence never waned, and his ability to persevere and come back better surprised nobody that witnessed his initial rise. 

Perhaps that's because his hamstring injury doesn't rank at the top of adversity he's experienced while trying to carve out a professional football career. 

That title goes to finding out his mother had cancer while he was still in school at Penn State. 

"That was probably one of the toughest moments of my life," Dotson said. "Growing up you feel like your parents are invincible and you never really see them hurting. She's my why."

He didn't have to push through that ordeal to hit career highs once, but twice, and because of those experiences Dotson chose American Cancer Research as his cause during the league's My Cause My Cleats initiative last season. 

While the national narrative continues to carry a doutbful tone surrounding the Commanders and their second-year quarterback Sam Howell especially. 

The players and coaches are echoing anthems of confidence that not only will they have success in 2023, but so will Howell as a part of a paget turning year in Washington. 

One that hopes to carry at least one breakout season, and produce the team's first winning season since 2015.

Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.

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