When the Dallas Cowboys made the decision to sign veteran wide receiver TY Hilton on Dec. 12, it was met with mixed reactions. The 33-year-old didn’t play the entire 2022 season, and his last game came in the 2021 season with the Indianapolis Colts. Hilton had a great career with the Colts, however, there were questions about whether he had lost his explosiveness over the years in Indy and whether he could still be in game shape for Dallas this season.
It didn’t help his cause that many Cowboys fans were drawn to the team getting free agent Odell Beckham Jr. instead. While he may not be a household name like Beckham Jr., Hilton has proven to be a reliable target for quarterback Dak Prescott since he joined the team.
Hilton got off to a great start to his Dallas career with a 52-yard reception on 3rd-and-30 in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas Eve.
The catch was a huge moment in the game because the 3rd-and-30 conversion is unbelievable, and it was a crucial drive that led to a touchdown to keep the Cowboys in the game.
Hmmmm. I wonder if that was my welcome to Dallas
— TY Hilton (@TYHilton13) December 25, 2022
Hilton picked up right where he left off in his second Christmas Eve game with the Cowboys on Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans. Hilton had four receptions for 50 yards, averaging 12.5 yards per reception. Where Hilton really provided its value was in the third. He converted three third downs against the Titans, proving to be a reliable go-to guy for Prescott in a key part of the offensive drive.
Hilton is proving he still has it and can make an impact for a team that needs it at the wide receiver position. Through his two games with the Cowboys, he has five receptions on six targets, four third-down conversions, 102 receiving yards and 20.4 yards per catch.
While wide receiver Noah Brown is coming off a career year for the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, Hilton provides the veteran consistency the Cowboys desperately needed after trading WR Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns in the offseason. Hilton is no longer the number one wide receiver, but he doesn’t need to be. CeeDee Lamb has proven that he is one of the best receiving talents in the NFL and is capable of being the team’s number one guy. Dallas just needed someone to play complementary football around him, and Hilton has provided just that in his two games in Dallas.
