Cowboys week three rookie report: Tony Pollard scores first career TD, Trysten Hill makes season debut

The Cowboys are rolling through the first three weeks of the 2019 season, winning all three games by double digits and scoring at least 30 points in each of the games. The offense looks confident, the defense is playing fairly well, and the optimism in Dallas is as high as it has been during the Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott era.

Dallas is going to have to pay some of its bigger names — like Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, and Byron Jones — so the team is hoping some of their younger guys can create depth and have an impact on the team. If last Sunday was any indication, it appears as if the Cowboys have added more talent to its roster through the draft.

Tony Pollard and Joe Jackson have suited up for all three Cowboys games this season, while both Trysten Hill and Donovan Wilson made their debuts in week three. Let’s take a look at how the rookies performed in week three.

Tony Pollard

Tony Pollard put together a very impressive preseason with the Dallas Cowboys as Ezekiel Elliott waited for a new contract. The Memphis product was used all over the field during his collegiate career — lining up in the backfield, used a wide receiver, and being lethal as a return man on special teams — and it appears that Kellen Moore will use the rookie back in as many ways as he can.

Pollard was mostly quiet through his first two regular season games, but Sunday was a little bit of a coming out party for the rookie. Some of that has to do with the Miami Dolphins being terrible, but some of it is also because Pollard has the talent to carve out a real role in this offense.

Tony Pollard carried the rock 13 times for 103 times — including a touchdown on the ground — while also contributing three grabs for 25 yards. Pollard averaged eight yards per touch in the 25-point victory.

Pollard had multiple plays on Sunday that showcased his ability to be dangerous in the Cowboys offense. This run here is just one example of what he brings to the table:

It remains to be seen how involved Pollard will be in a week-to-week basis, but it is clear that he has the talent and the potential to be a weapon in Kellen Moore’s Cowboys offense this season.

Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson has been one of just two Cowboys rookies to be active for every game this season — which is big for the defensive end out of Miami. With Taco Charlton out of town, that bodes well for Jackson’s future.

Jackson has not received a ton of snaps thus far, but he has made two total tackles on the year in limited action. Versus the Dolphins, Jackson recorded one solo tackle and was credited with a pass deflection as well.

Trysten Hill

Trysten Hill was the first pick of the Cowboys 2019 draft, but the UCF product had been inactive for the first two games of the season. An Antuwan Woods injury allowed Hill to make his regular season debut this past Sunday, and he showed some flashes in the game.

Hill doesn’t appear much at all in the box score — he was credited for just two QB hits on the day — but the rookie caught the eyes of those watching closely, which is a good sign moving forward.

Hill flashed at times versus the Dolphins, including on that play near the end zone. He used his quickness to get into the backfield and blow up the play before it had a real chance of going anywhere.

The Cowboys are expecting Hill to become a quality player for them, and he didn’t do much to suggest otherwise during his first game action of his career.

Donovan Wilson

With Xavier Woods nursing an injury, the Cowboys need all hands on deck at the safety position for the near future. While Woods could potentially suit up for Sunday’s contest against the Saints, the more bodies the better for Dallas at safety.

Wilson is a sixth-round pick that the Cowboys are high on. Wilson himself was dealing with an ankle injury during the first two weeks of the season, but is back in action for the Cowboys. He didn’t see any defensive snaps last week, but he did get 10 snaps on special teams so the rookie is starting to contribute.