The 10-3 Dallas Cowboys have made a splashy receiver signing ahead of what the team hopes to be a deep playoff run, adding a veteran wideout with multiple Pro Bowl appearances in his career.
But it wasn’t the receiver many expected.
On Monday afternoon, the Cowboys announced the signing of longtime former Indianapolis Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton. The 33-year-old — who went unsigned during the offseason and throughout most of the regular season after his contract expired in Indianapolis last year — has made four Pro Bowl appearances in his career and led the NFL in receiving yards in 2016.
BREAKING: the Cowboys have officially signed 4-Time Pro Bowl wide receiver @TYHilton13.
Learn more → https://t.co/IZTClopSbg#DallasCowboys | @blockchain pic.twitter.com/pAp0yp3Spq
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 12, 2022
This all but guarantees that Dallas won’t be signing Odell Beckham Jr., after all. The veteran star also hasn’t played since 2021, when he won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, but it looked like he could be heading to the Lone Star State after a visit last week.
However, things seemed to fizzle out after Beckham underwent a physical that reportedly left the team with concerns that he hadn’t recovered enough from a torn ACL in the Super Bowl win enough to play this season.
With the Cowboys essentially publicly taking themselves out of the OBJ sweepstakes, fans — many of whom expected him to join Dallas’ roster — were surprised.
TY Hilton over Odell Beckham Jr. Ok Jerry Jones 🤔
— Brandon Fred Jones (@bfredjones) December 12, 2022
You spelled Odell Beckham Jr. wrong. 😆 https://t.co/rapPSsHx6D
— Ryan Yunt (@Ryan_sovah_Yunt) December 12, 2022
jerry jones [immediately after being rejected by odell beckham jr]: i need a receiver with some initials and i need him now
— Sloup: Ampharos Sirius (@Sloup) December 12, 2022
NOdell. https://t.co/rvVChSGjDc
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) December 12, 2022
With the Cowboys signing TY Hilton it likely means one of two things:
1. OBJ really isn’t ready to play
2. The Giants or Bills have emerged as frontrunners for OBJ
— Mat Mlodzinski (@MatMlodzinski) December 12, 2022
“We have OBJ at home”
The OBJ at home: https://t.co/xzc0N2uqmU
— Brock Bolinger (@InternBrock) December 12, 2022
Odell seeing the Cowboys sign T.Y. Hilton pic.twitter.com/aWFU63Xfxs
— OddsChecker (@OddsCheckerUS) December 12, 2022
Mike McCarthy on Cowboys addition of veteran WR T.Y. Hilton: "T.Y.’s in today. That’s a great addition. Obviously he’s been working all year so he’s in great shape medically."
Medically, Hilton "passed with flying colors" and is ready to go per McCarthy.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 12, 2022
It is clear that the Cowboys were determined to add to their wide receiver room.
They also made it very clear that they wanted someone who can help now and not in 2023. They realize that they are close.
T.Y. Hilton is about the now. https://t.co/SKU1qXsrmA
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) December 12, 2022
The #Cowboys needed some speed at WR.
I don't trust that T.Y. Hilton can stay healthy for a full season.
But for a few games and the playoffs… yes!
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) December 12, 2022
T.Y. Hilton might be 39 but maybe he can add some field-stretching goodness down the stretch crazier things have happened
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 12, 2022
T.Y. Hilton SZN!!!
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) December 12, 2022
OBJ seeing the Cowboys sign T.Y. Hilton pic.twitter.com/bx3RveH1zI
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) December 12, 2022
T.Y. Hilton is a better signing than OBJ because Hilton is healthy and ready to play right now. We'll see if he can produce on the field.
— A Boy Named Sue (@greggorox) December 12, 2022
On Sunday Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said the time was ticking and Monday her pulled the trigger on T.Y Hilton. https://t.co/IulGJ0iD9h
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) December 12, 2022
