He kinda had to play him this year. DJ being the incumbent leader/elder statesman of the WR room, had a lot of clout with the youngsters. BJ simply couldn't come in and eviscerate the captain. That's why the off-season body language thing came out delicately played.
Now that BJ and Randall El have established their trust with the players DJ's influence doesn't carry the weight. In the meantime lesser weapons got the "no block, no rock" treatment. (Burden,Walker, Loveland). Time means a lot.
Going forward, Loveland, Burden and Walker enter their second pro year needing more targets. Let alone Rome entering the beginning of his prime. The combination of the above make DJ expendable. We need one of the above to accept the crown. If they need to find that dog, they can get a hungry vet cheaply in free agency.
At the end of the day, we want an Amon Ra type to be our leader. (No plays off). Plays off are for the sideline...