| D'Wayne Eskridge | |
| Current Team: | Seattle Seahawks |
| Number: | 1 |
| Position: | Wide receiver, kick returner |
| Birth Date: | 23 March 1997 |
| Birth Place: | Winona, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 9 |
| Weight Lb: | 190 |
| High School: | Bluffton (Bluffton, Indiana) |
| College: | Western Michigan (2016–2020) |
| Draftyear: | 2021 |
| Draftround: | 2 |
| Draftpick: | 56 |
| Pastteams: |
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| Status: | Active |
| Highlights: |
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| Statseason: | 2023 |
| Statlabel1: | Receptions |
| Statvalue1: | 17 |
| Statlabel2: | Receiving yards |
| Statvalue2: | 122 |
| Statlabel3: | Receiving touchdowns |
| Statvalue3: | 1 |
| Statlabel4: | Return yards |
| Statvalue4: | 428 |
| Pfr: | EskrDW00 |
D'Wayne "Dee" Eskridge (born March 23, 1997) is an American football wide receiver and kick returner for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Western Michigan.
Eskridge was born and initially grew up in Winona, Mississippi, before his family moved to Bluffton, Indiana, while he was in grade school. He attended Bluffton High School, where he played football and was a sprinter on the track team. He was named Indiana's Mr. Track and Field as a senior. He committed to play college football at Western Michigan over Ball State, which was the only other FBS program to offer him a scholarship.
Eskridge saw playing time as a reserve receiver as a freshman. Eskridge became a starter going into his sophomore season and finished the year with 30 receptions for 506 yards and three touchdowns. As a junior, he caught 38 passes for 776 yards and three touchdowns.[1] Eskridge spent the offseason at cornerback and entered his senior year as a starter on both offense and defense. He broke his collarbone four games into the season and used a medical redshirt.[2] As a redshirt senior, Eskridge returned to playing receiver while also taking on the Broncos' kickoff return duties.[3] At the end of the season he was named first-team All-Mid American Conference (MAC) as a receiver after leading the conference with 784 yards and eight touchdowns on 34 receptions and the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year after returning 16 kickoffs for 467 yards and one touchdown.[4] Following the end of the season Eskridge participated in the 2021 Senior Bowl.[5]
Eskridge was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round (56th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.[6] On May 14, 2021, Eskridge signed his four-year rookie contract with Seattle,[7] which was for $5.9 million in total in addition to a signing bonus of $1.6 million.[8]
On October 7, 2021, Eskridge was placed on injured reserve with a concussion.[9] He was activated on November 12.[10] On December 5, Eskridge scored his first NFL touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Russell Wilson in a 30–23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.[11] As a rookie, he recorded ten receptions for 64 yards and one touchdown in ten games.[12]
On November 26, 2022, Eskridge was placed on injured reserve with a broken hand.[13] He appeared in ten games in the 2022 season. He had seven receptions for 58 yards.[14]
Eskridge was suspended the first six games of the 2023 season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.[15] The league penalty followed an inquiry into a February 2023 arrest on misdemeanor charges after a confrontation with the mother of his child.[16] He appeared in four games in the 2023 season.[17]