For Arizona State Sun Devil fans who followed the towering wide receiver during his time in Tempe, the latest news out of Philadelphia carries a familiar sting of unfulfilled potential.
On Friday, the Eagles waived Johnny Wilson with an injury designation. After clearing waivers, the 6-foot-6 receiver was officially placed on injured reserve Saturday, per reports including those from Olivia Reiner of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Wilson, a former Arizona State standout before transferring, will miss the 2026 season while recovering from a lingering knee injury.
This marks the second consecutive year the former sixth-round pick (185th overall in 2024) has been sidelined after missing all of 2025 with season-ending knee and ankle issues suffered in training camp.
From an Arizona State perspective, Wilson’s story began with high expectations.
A consensus four-star recruit out of Calabasas High School in California, the Pacoima native arrived in Tempe as part of the 2020 class after flipping from Oregon. Listed around 6-6 or 6-7 and over 230 pounds even then, he possessed the rare size and athleticism that made him a coveted prospect.
His Sun Devil career proved limited. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the true freshman appeared in three games (one start), catching six passes for 89 yards. In 2021, he played five games with two starts, recording 12 receptions for 154 yards and his first collegiate touchdown against UNLV.
A hamstring injury later that year curtailed his progress, and he finished his ASU tenure with just 18 catches for 243 yards and one score across eight games.
After the season, Wilson entered the transfer portal and landed at Florida State, where he flourished—leading the Seminoles in receiving in 2022 and earning All-ACC honors in both seasons there.
That growth led the Eagles to draft him. In his 2024 rookie year, Wilson appeared in all 16 games with four starts, catching five passes for 38 yards and one touchdown while earning praise for his blocking. Injuries, however, have repeatedly stalled his development ever since.
For those who watched him in maroon and gold, Wilson remains a reminder of the talent that passed through the program.
Though his path took him to Tallahassee and then the NFL, Arizona State fans can still root for the big receiver’s recovery and hope he gets another chance to show the playmaking ability that first drew attention in Tempe. At 25, time remains on his side if health cooperates.
