FRISCO, Texas — Throughout the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys defensive line has consistently been a bright spot on the team’s roster. With the added depth to the line in the spring, newcomer Kerry Hyder has continued to impress with his versatility and high-energy throughout training camp and the preseason thus far.
Hyder is a Texas boy. He grew up in Austin and played college ball for Texas Tech. The 28-year-old went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft and signed as a free agent with the New York Jets following the draft. He was released in August and signed to the Jets’ practice squad. The Detroit Lions signed Hyder off New York’s practice squad. He tallied three sacks in the final preseason game for Detroit and earned a spot on the team’s final 53-man roster.
He faced a series of injuries with the Lions including a torn Achilles, which ended his 2017 season. In 2018, the Lions signed him to a one-year deal and the Cowboys picked him up back in March.
He has the flexibility to play tackle or end and continues to turn the coaches heads. Hyder has great instincts to visualize where a runner intends to go. He clogs holes at the line of scrimmage to prevent a runner from gaining yards and he has created solid pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He finished the week two-preseason game with three tackles in a short time-span.
“ He is a pro,” Jason Garrett commented. “ He is versatile, plays hard, around the ball. Good instincts.”
With his production on the field, his future on the Cowboys’ final roster becomes more and more secure
