Dallas Cowboys: Did Trysten Hill’s injury seal his fate?
When the Dallas Cowboys kickoff training camp practices on Thursday, they’ll do so with some prominent players sidelined. The Cowboys have now released a list of six players whom they’ve placed on the Physically Unable to Perform or PUP list to start training camp.
Those names include defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, defensive tackle Trysten Hill, wide receiver Amari Cooper, offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt, kicker Greg Zuerlein, and defensive end Chauncey Golston. Rookie wide receiver T.J. Vasher was placed on the Active/Non-Football Injury (NFI) list.
According to Rob Phillips of DallasCowboys.com, Lawrence is still working back from a clean-up back procedure in the offseason. And head coach Mike McCarthy believes none of the players on the above list are dealing with anything long-term.
But of all the names on the PUP list, McCarthy also indicated that Hill is the furthest from being physically ready. In fact, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, the former second-rounder’s status on the team might be in jeopardy as he believes it’s highly unlikely he’ll even suit up in seven weeks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when the Cowboys kickoff their regular season in Week One.
Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence (back) should be ready Week 1. Same for WR Amari Cooper (ankle), K Greg Zuerlein (back) and DE Chauncey Golston (hamstring).
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) July 22, 2021
But already fighting for job, DT Trysten Hill (ACL) in a precarious position. Highly unlikely to suit up in 7 weeks vs. Bucs.
As the Cowboys’ top selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, Hill was underwhelming as a rookie playing in only seven games and registering a mere five total tackles. Last season, Pro Football Focus graded the 23-year old defender’s overall play a lowly 33.8 although he appeared to be the team’s best interior disruptor at times.
Hill suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week Five. He recorded 11 combined tackles and three quarterback hits in his five starts. Hill has yet to post a single sack through his first two seasons in the NFL.
Despite his draft status, Hill is believed to be on the roster bubble this summer in large part due to a lack of sponsorship. Entering his third season in Dallas, the young defensive tackle is set to play under his third different defensive coordinator in Dan Quinn.
Hill also faces stiffer competition with the team adding defensive linemen like Osa Odighizuwa, Quinton Bohanna, Brent Urban, Carlos Watkins, Tarell Basham, and Chauncey Golston to the roster this offseason. All of whom have been handpicked to fit Quinn’s new scheme in Dallas.
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If Trysten Hill is forced to miss all of training camp and the preseason, he could easily be viewed as a candidate to be waived during final cuts. But Dallas could also elect to place Hill on their regular-season PUP list, which would allow him to remain on the team and have his fate decided at the midseason point when he’d be eligible to return.