FRISCO — Last year, the Dallas Cowboys saw their linebacker corps decimated through injuries. That unfortunate streak began in the before Week 1 when DeMarvion Overshown tore his ACL in the team’s second preseason game.
Overshown, a recent third-round pick out of Texas at the time, had a burst to his game that was projected to uplift Dallas at the linebacker spot.
Unfortunately, his official debut had to wait a year. For Overshown, all the work in recovery to get back on the field had built him his anticipation to get back on the field.
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Sunday, he realized that goal against the Cleveland Browns.
“It definitely felt great to get back out there,” he said. “When you have a year of straight rehab, no playing football, it’s days when I just wanna run fast again.”
“And seeing those guys fly around [last season] while standing on the sideline, wishing I was doing that. I finally got to do that today.”
Not only did he make an impact in his first regular season game, he was arguably one of the best players on the field. Overshown finished with 11 tackles, the most of any player on either team, and an electrifying fourth-down sack.
With Dallas in control 27-10, the Browns needed a conversion to maintain their hopes. Deshaun Watson scrambled right, looking for an open receiver, only to meet the Cowboys linebacker in stride.
Overshown charged through the quarterback, ending the possession and effectively putting a stamp on the contest.
All in all, a Micah Parsons evaluation is worth noting here.
Said Micah: “I was like, ‘Bro, you’re gonna have people who think you’re faster than me now.’ “He’s so fast. He’s explosive. He’s one of the most exciting players I’ve seen. … I think he’s going to be an All-Pro player.”
His highlight sack remains the viral takeaway, but at a greater scale Overshown has added a new element to this defense. Patrolling the second level of this unit, he brings a level of intensity and speed that Dallas has somewhat lacked for a while.
Before his arrival, the Cowboys defense already oozed of talent and star power. Overshown has the skillset to join such a group down the line.
For now, he still has much to prove and room to grow as a young player. But already, has proven he can be a difference-maker on this defense.
