Lost in the Dallas Cowboys' trade acquisitions of Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson was the return of athletic linebacker DeMarvion Overshown to the lineup during Monday night's blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The playmaking LB suffered a gruesome knee injury last December, tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL in Week 14. His return coincided with the debut of Williams and Wilson. Couple that with facing a limp Vegas offense, and the Cowboys D looked as good as it has all season.
"Look, it's really been every day. I give myself situations and challenges to overcome," Overshown said of his return, via the team’s official website. "Throughout this whole process, I knew I was going to be a football player again. I knew I was going to be the linebacker I was before. It was just, 'How do I attack every day to get back to that point?'"
Overshown played 29 snaps in his debut, per Next Gen Stats, not looking worse for wear coming off the injury. He generated one tackle -- for a loss -- but was near the pigskin on several other plays.
"It's a confidence thing, knowing that you're one of those dudes that's supposed to make that play and then go make that play," he said. "I didn't really think twice about it at all when I saw [Ashton Jeanty] out in the open field because I'm aware of my abilities. I ain't losing [any] steps. ... It felt good to be out there, though, and now you're going into a short week [with] the Eagles coming into town."
Overshown, a 2023 third-round pick, missed his entire rookie campaign after suffering an ACL injury in the preseason. He returned last year and was fantastic, showing speed, athletic ability, smarts on the second level, and the knack for rushing the passer. In 13 games, he generated 90 tackles, five sacks, eight tackles for loss, four passes defended, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception returned for a touchdown.
The trades for Williams and Wilson certainly boosted the Cowboys defense. But the return of Overshown shouldn't be understated. If he can stay healthy, the 25-year-old is a difference-maker on the second level.
"That was the first time the defense played together," Overshown said. "It's only up from here. I already know what our offense is gonna do, but the defense is only up from here."
The question is whether the 4-5-1 Cowboys can dig themselves out of an early-season hole. Jerry Jones' club might need to win out to have a shot at making the postseason.
