Despite not getting any more signings, the Cowboys were active in the exit section before the trade window closed. Once the deadline Tuesday afternoon, the Cowboys team decided to release defensive tackle Trysten Hill. This, it is worth mentioning, after not finding another franchise interested in the defensive lineman.
Now, there was some chance the team would sign Hill to their practice squad if no one stayed with him via waivers. But this did not happen.
As reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Cardinals obtained Hill on Wednesday through the waivers. In this way, the Arizona team ends up keeping a player they considered to reinforce their defensive line. And this without having to give anything in return.
Cardinals claim DT Trysten Hill off waivers from Cowboys (per @TomPelissero)https://t.co/jMK7quC2Wp pic.twitter.com/rH4tAVsXB0
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) November 2, 2022
It is worth mentioning that Hill had already been sounding since the offseason as a possible trade token for the cowboy team. This, in large part, was because he was in the final year of his rookie deal. However, the team opted for his immediate departure due to a surplus of defensive linemen. Additionally, a roster spot needed to be freed up for the activation of Tarell Basham from injured reserve.
With this, Trysten Hill’s Cowboys career officially came to an end. Chosen in the second round of the 2019 Draft, the young tackle never lived up to the hype around him. This, in large part, due to different reasons: three different defensive coordinators in 3 1/2 years, a knee injury that kept him out of the game for almost a year, plus a erratic performance.
Besides, Hill’s numbers with the Cowboys were pretty poor. In 3 1/2 seasons, the Central Florida product posted just 33 combined tackles, 11 quarterback hits, four tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. All this in 25 games, playing only five of them as a starter.
Lastly, Hill is best remembered in cowboy nation (and in the NFL) for his on-field altercations. The most notorious was in the 2020 season, in the week 3 game against the Seahawks. There, Hill almost injured running back Chris Carson, this after making a “dirty” tackle by spinning on him without letting go of his leg.
Besides, there is also what happened on Thanksgiving Day 2021 against the Raiders. Following the end of the game, Hill took a swing at rival guard John Simpson, knocking off his helmet on the spot. Despite the subsequent exchange of words, the incident did not escalate.
This is one of the dirtiest plays I’ve seen in *any* sport in a long time.
*This* is how you end someone’s season.
I hope the league punishes (suspends) Trysten Hill swiftly. Thankfully Chris Carson walked off the field under his own power. #SEAvsDAL pic.twitter.com/Wnxj6uciJR
— Dakarai Turner (@Dakarai_Turner) September 28, 2020
Cowboys DT Trysten Hill taking a swing at Raiders guard John Simpson after the game last night
(Video: @espn) pic.twitter.com/Zp7Z8VhrFU
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 26, 2021
It’s worth noting that Trysten Hill is the second defensive tackle to come out of the Cowboys so far this season. Let’s remember that the cowboy team released rookie John Ridgeway III a few weeks ago, this with the intention of opening space on the roster and signing him to the practice squad. However, the Washington Commanders stayed with Ridgeway during the process of waivers rigorously after his release.
In this way, Dallas now has five defensive tackles on its active roster: Johnathan Hankins, Osa Odighizuwa, Neville Gallimore, Carlos Watkins and Quinton Bohanna. Recall that Hankins from the Raiders was the Cowboys’ only addition in this year’s trade window.
With these numbers, it remains to be seen if the cowboy defense coordinated by Dan Quinn can solve its biggest weakness right now: the ground defense. In fact, the trade for Johnathan Hankins was done with the intention of reinforcing that aspect. And while there was no immediate improvement against the Bears, it should be noticeable in the coming weeks. This, especially considering the running threats from the Cowboys’ next opponents.
