2019 UDFA making noise early at Cowboys training camp

It seems every year we get a player who comes out of nowhere and surprises us all. That is exactly what a 2019 undrafted free agent did during the first weekend of Cowboys training camp.

Tyron Billy-Johnson jumped off the screen this weekend, kinda like Dennis Houston and T.J. Vasher did the last few years.

Every time I opened X/Twitter this past weekend, it was a highlight of him doing something productive. Almost like he has a chip on his shoulder to prove to people he belongs, and he is off to a great start.

He comes into this training camp with nothing to lose and everything to gain. He has a perfect opportunity to make a case for a roster spot.

Tyron Billy Johnson on crossing route. pic.twitter.com/tCfCGtoixb

— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) July 26, 2024

Wide Open Spaces

With Michael Gallup gone and no clear-cut No. 3 wide receiver, Billy-Johnson is out there competing, making a case for himself.

Jalen Tolbert should be the betting favorite to be lined up next to CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks when the season starts in September, but then who?

Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy have both been hot topics this summer, but Billy-Johnson showed us this weekend that he could be a threat.

KaVontae Turpin is the other guy that can compete for snaps, in the slot or elsewhere, but he is the Swiss army knife that should be on the field anywhere, whenever.

In a week where Tyron Billy-Johnson has made his presence felt, today has been his best day.

Hauls in a deep ball from Cooper Rush here for a touchdown and celebrates immediately.#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/7pBgaGJ3w1

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) July 28, 2024

If you don’t know much about him, Johnson is 6-foot-1, 193 pounds. He was undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2019. During his two years at Oklahoma State, he had 80 catches for 1,288 yards.

His time in the NFL has not been kind though.

He’s played 26 games as a pro, with his best coming with the Chargers in 2020, when he caught 20 passes for 398 yards and three touchdowns.

Billy-Johnson signed with Dallas last year and spent his time on the practice squad.

He is 28 years old, so it seems like he knows this could be the last real chance he has to step on the field during the regular season in the NFL, and for the first week he is making the most of it.

Working With First Team

Before we get excited about what he was doing with Cooper Rush and the other backups, he was indeed working with the first team and Dak Prescott.

There is always a lot to unpack, but seeing this type of confidence from a guy who has struggled to even see the field for his entire career is something to note.

Seeing him connect with Prescott during the first weekend of camp is a big deal.

On the Cowboys’ first practice, Prescott found Billy-Johnson on a deep ball near the sidelines, challenging cornerback Nahshon Wright in the process. He showed awareness with his footwork to stay in-bounds.

Take a look at the video below to see for yourself.

Dak hits the deep ball to Tyron Billy-Johnson pic.twitter.com/wTmnzdKkEJ

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) July 25, 2024

Low risk, massive reward is what you are getting if Tyron Billy-Johnson turns out to be anything other than a training camp body. He is only making a little over a million dollars on a one-year contract.

With CeeDee Lamb still away waiting for his well deserved contract, the younger guys are moving up a spot and have a chance to get reps they normally wouldn’t.

Who knows, he very well could be a one-week wonder and find himself fighting for a roster spot when training camp and preseason is over, but he looks like he fits the offense right now. We’ll just have to see how the rest of the camp shakes out.

It’s also good to see players like him step up, so if they lose someone to injury like the defense did with Sam Williams, you have a guy who is earning the respect of the starting quarterback.