After Odell Beckham Jr. said he didn't plan to play in the regular season in early December, the Cowboys went and signed someone who could. In comes T.Y. Hilton, who joined Dallas to give Dak Prescott another proven option in key moments, and he delivered in a big way on Sunday against the Eagles.
Hilton, making his team debut, saved the Cowboys on his very first catch with Dallas on a longshot 3rd & 30 play.
The former Colts receiver took the Cowboys from a near-certain punt to the red zone, making a play that led to a game-tying touchdown. Giving the ball back to the Eagles in the fourth quarter while trailing by seven would've been a potential death blow to the Cowboys' chances, likely ending their NFC East hopes.
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Remarkably, that was Hilton's only catch of the game. His stat line as a Cowboy entering Week 17 will be one catch for 52 yards and a win.
TY Hilton is 33 years old and has been relaxing with his family for the last 11 months and then he can just show up in December and catch a 50-yard pass on third-and-30.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) December 24, 2022
Prescott lit up when asked about the play immediately after the game, telling Fox's Erin Andrews, "That's why you go and get a guy like that."
Prescott added with a big smile that he's happy to have Hilton in Dallas, and that sentiment is likely shared around the locker room.
My guy TY always come through whenever you need him! Love to see it man @TYHilton13 https://t.co/J90Xv4hZ7Y
— Darius Shaquille Leonard (@dsleon45) December 25, 2022
"It was a great route, it was a great ball, and obviously it was a huge play in the game," head coach Mike McCarthy said postgame.
Hilton isn't necessarily taking targets away from anyone in the Cowboys' passing game. CeeDee Lamb still dominated the gameplan with 120 yards and two touchdowns on 10 catches, while Michael Gallup was targeted seven times and Dalton Schultz was involved with four targets.
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At Hilton's age, he can't handle that kind of workload and won't be expected to, but Saturday's play might be a window into the dynamic he can add to Dallas' offense in the playoffs.
Jerry Jones has publicly insisted Beckham could still be signed for the playoffs, but if Hilton can prove to be an effective safety blanket for Prescott, one has to wonder whether that many will be better spend on some temporary solutions in the secondary.
