DeMarvion Overshown is one of the most talented players that the Dallas Cowboys have on either side of the ball. When he’s on the field, he has the ability to move sideline-to-sideline with his speed and athleticism, he can rush the passer if need be, and as a former safety, he has the ability to make plays in coverage.
Those are excellent traits to have for any linebacker, and he simply makes the Cowboys’ defense better when he’s in uniform (except on this past Sunday night). However, as the old
saying goes, a player’s best ability is availability. In that department, Overshown hasn’t had the best of luck. In fact, it’s been a constant struggle for him to remain healthy, and it started as soon as he was drafted.
When Overshown was selected in the third round with the 90th overall pick in 2023, the buzz was huge around Dallas. Unfortunately, it ended almost as soon as it started as he wouldn’t even play a snap in his rookie season due to tearing the ACL in his left knee that August in the preseason. The Cowboys still managed to go 12-5 and made the playoffs, but there’s no telling how better their defense would have been with him on the field.
The 2024 season saw Overshown take the league by storm. Although the Cowboys weren’t good as a team, Overshown proved that he had what it takes to be an effective player. He racked up 90 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, five quarterback hits, one interception (returned for a touchdown), four pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. As great as his performance was, Overshown missed the last month of the season as he tore the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his right knee.
This forced him to miss the first 10 games of the 2025 season. He was activated in Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and logged 28 tackles in the six games he played in. Once again, he had to miss a little bit of time as he was out for the final two games with a concussion. Dallas has only played one game so far in 2026, but Overshown is expected to miss 1-2 weeks with a hamstring issue. Luckily, the time frame isn’t long, but it’s just the latest in a long list of injuries for Overshown.
As good of a player as Overshown is, it just seems like they’ll always be something he has to deal with. It’s a very frustrating thing for Overshown and the Cowboys, especially considering that their defense has been a major issue over the past few seasons. Also, he is in a contract year, and another injury-plagued season will force the Cowboys to have to take a serious look at his future with the organization.
The hope is that his current injury will be the only thing he deals with after he returns in the week or two. If not, Overshown could be playing elsewhere in 2027. Of course, nobody wants that to be the case, but it’s a possibility that could become a reality.
What’s your take BTB? Will Overshown ever shake off the injuries and become the player we saw in 2024?
