Wicks, 25, is coming off a 2025 performance in which he had 30 receptions for 332 yards and two touchdowns — each of which were career lows.
Jayden Reed was injured and Tucker Kraft lost Wicks in the shuffle behind Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson. With Watson, Reed and Kraft back, 2025 first-rounder Matthew Golden was expected to play a bigger role along with ’25 third-rounder Savion Williams, and Green Bay may have given Wicks a bigger opportunity with the two-time reigning NFC East champions.
He has already started to take up teaching to a certain extent.
“We’re all still learning the offense and new ways of doing things here around Philly,” he said. “I get some questions about what I know, but we’re all still learning. We’re all getting better.”
“It’s not hard. It’s just details.”
Where Wicks will play in remains to be seen. He’s part of a significant shakeup in the Eagles’ wide receiver room, with the most notable change being the subtraction of AJ Brown, who was traded to the New England Patriots.
Joining Wicks as fresh faces are first-round pick Makai Lemon, former Packer Marquise Brown, Samori Toure, Elijah Moore and Johnny Wilson, among others. The unquestioned leader of the group is Smith, who is coming off the third 1,000-yard season of his career, and is leading quarterback Jalen Hurts.
“Smitty, he from Louisiana. I’m from Louisiana. Growing up, I knew about Smitty,” said Wicks, a native of Plaquemine, Louisiana. “And me and Smitty talked before I got here. Being here with him, he’s a great guy to look up to,” Wicks said. “His way is very smooth, very smooth in his ways. And I feel the same about myself.”
There is some familiarity for Wicks, but this is a fresh start for him and the Eagles WR corps. He intends to contribute as much as he can.
“I want to be the best I can be, fill the void. Whatever the team asks me to do, step up and play that role,” Wicks said. “I just look at it as taking advantage of my opportunity that I’ve been given. We never know what’s going to happen over the course of the season. Just taking it day by day and continuing to work to be the best.”