Two years in the NFL and two years spent mostly on Injured Reserve. That's how Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver Cedrick Wilson's professional career has pretty much gone to date. His opportunity of earning a roster spot with the Cowboys or any other team in the league could be running out, meaning 2020 could be a make or break year for him.
The ever important Year 3 is looming over Cedrick Wilson's head right now. This is the year that typically determines whether or not a players got what it takes to succeed in the NFL. By now we should know what Wilson can and cannot do on the field, but unfortunately for him he can't seem to get out of his own way.
Cedrick Wilson simply hasn't been able to stay healthy enough to prove what he's capable of on the field. In training camp as a rookie he was being spoken highly of, but a torn labrum put a stop to that as quickly as it started. That unfortunate injury earned him a spot on Injured Reserve (IR). Basically, 2018 could have been classified as a redshirt year for him.
2019 was supposed to be different for Cedrick Wilson. He looked to be the favorite to replace Cole Beasley early in the offseason, but that all changed once the Dallas Cowboys signed veteran WR Randall Cobb. Despite Cobb's addition though, Wilson was receiving a few opportunities here and there to show his talent on the field as both a wide receiver and punt returner.
Things were actually starting to look up. Wilson was starting to show flashes of the player the Dallas Cowboys thought they were getting when they drafted him in the sixth-round of the 2018 NFL Draft. That's when the unfortunate injury bug struck again. He sustained a knee injury in the fourth quarter in Week 14, which again ended up landing him on IR.
There seems to be a reoccurring theme when it comes to Cedrick Wilson. Just when he starts to prove his worth and show what he can do on the field, an injury arises that puts him out of commission. If he ever wants to earn a more prominent role with the Dallas Cowboys, or any other team for that matter, he's going to have to figure out a way to stay healthy.
That's why 2020 is such a big year for him. I believe he has the talent to be a reliable weapon in the passing game, although that's based on nothing more than the few flashes we've seen from him. I however think those flashes, few and far between they may be, are enough to give him every opportunity to prove his worth.
With the Dallas Cowboys that's not going to be easy. They already have Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb cemented as their top three WRs. Behind them though is completely unknown and that's where Cedrick Wilson can hopefully make his mark. He could prove to be invaluable depth if he can stay healthy.
The Dallas Cowboys will be looking for some solid depth and that's Cedrick Wilson's best chance of sticking around. In fact, he could be exactly what they're looking for. He has good size (6'2″, 200), is a good route runner, has outside/inside versatility, and plays special teams. Those attributes are exactly the criteria the Cowboys should be looking for in regards to WR depth.
Of course, all of this hinges on Cedrick Wilson being able to stay healthy for an entire season.
