T.Y. Hilton gives Dallas Cowboys vs. Eagles what Odell Beckham can’t: big plays now
Sometimes in relationships if you can’t date the one you like, you date the one who likes you.
After weeks of courting free agent receiver Odell Beckham Jr to give them a boost for the playoffs, the Cowboys signed 33-year-old veteran T.Y. Hilton two weeks ago.
Beckham, who hasn’t played since suffering a torn ACL in Super Bowl 56 last February with the Los Angeles, let it be known he wouldn’t be available to play until at least the start of the playoffs.
While the Cowboys remained interested in Beckham, Hilton was ready to play and make an impact now.
And did he ever.
In his first game since his final game with the Indianapolis Colts last January, Hilton, who still has blazing speed, made his presence felt in the second when he drew an illegal contact penalty on fourth-and-8. Three plays later quarterback Dak Prescott tossed a 36-yard touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb.
But the play of the game came in the fourth quarter with Cowboys trailing 34-27 and facing a 3rd-and-30 following back-to-back sacks of Prescott.
Prescott uncorked a desperation bomb and Hilton ran by the defense and ran under for a 52-yard completion.
Four plays later, Prescott hit Lamb with a 7-yard game-tying touchdown pass, giving the Cowboys the momentum to surge to a 40-34 victory.
“I told y’all all week if you just go stand there and try to get in my face then you’re crazy, I’m gonna run past you and that’s exactly what happened,” Hilton said. “I can still play. If you don’t think I can play, then that’s on you. I can still get open. I don’t have to be fast. I can be slow. I can still get open. But I’m still fast. Double [CeeDee Lamb] and leave me, whatever you choose, you’re in trouble.”
No one was more pleased than Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who led charge in the pursuit of Beckham.
“It was all there — his experience, his speed — to turn around and make that play,” Jones said. “That’s exactly what I thought he could get a chance to do. He was so excited about getting to come in here and be in games. I’m really proud for him. I’m really proud for our team, too, because he’ll add a dimension to this thing that just opens it up a little more.”
Not coincidentally, Jones officially closed the door on the team’s pursuit of Beckham for 2022 season after the game.
“Well, I think the big thing is me or whoever has let enough time go as we get toward the end of the season that it’s not realistic to think about having him in any meaningful way for the playoffs,” Jones said. “That’s not dismissing [signing Beckham in] the future, but it is dismissing, for the most part, the reality of him getting in here and helping us in the playoffs. That was a big part of the equation.”
Hilton had one one catch against the Eagles but it could be beginning of a bigger role in the offense. He was limited to special packages on Saturday because of his short time with the team.
He is now ready for more. And unlike Beckham, he can help the Cowboys now.
“Just because my age says I’m 33, it doesn’t mean I can’t still run, and I put it on tape today so I look forward to getting better,” Hilton said. “I’m ready if they want me to play 40 or 50 plays, I can do it. So it’s up to them. I’ll be ready no matter what.”
This story was originally published December 25, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
