The Dallas Cowboys are making a big change ahead of their Week 2 game against the Washington Commanders. After last week’s season-opening loss, the Cowboys return home to the Commanders at AT&T Stadium. While there are no must-win games in September, neither team can afford to start the season 0-2 — and 0-2 in NFC East play.
In last week’s loss to the Giants, starting linebacker DeMarvion Overshown left the game injured. It was later determined that Overshown was dealing with a hamstring injury. Dallas ruled him out of Sunday’s game against Washington.
With Overshown out, the Cowboys will insert rookie third-round pick Jaishawn Barham into the starting lineup alongside Dee Winters in Dallas defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s 3-4 defense.
Barham will not only start against the Commanders, but he’ll also wear the green dot.
That’s a big responsibility for a rookie, and many believed that if it went to any rookie, it would be first-round defensive back Caleb Downs. However, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer believes the Michigan rookie is ready.
“He’s got great command to what we’re doing,” Schottenheimer said via dallascowboys.com. “... I think the green dot gets overblown at times. He’s communicating calls and setting fronts, and the entire defense sets off of it.”
Barham received attention after seemingly blowing off Parker on the sideline in last week’s game. However, Parker, Schottenheimer, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb put the notion to rest that Barham wasn’t coachable.
In his first NFL start, Barham will be handling an important role. Will it be too much too soon? Or will it be a case of Barham seizing the position and never looking back?
You can bet Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels will be looking to challenge Barham on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Cowboys rookie thrust into important role vs. Commanders in Week 2
