Joe Milton was brilliant. Drew Shelton was frightening. Jonathan Mingo and Camden Brown’s competition at receiver was mesmerizing. And Jaishawn Barham looked like the second coming of someone spectacular.
The battle of the backups was admittedly good television. The Dallas Cowboys’ second, third and fourth units played with a fair degree of discipline and an inspiring level of promise. On the heels of their 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, stories like these are dominating the news feed right now, and rightfully so.
But what about the other storylines? The not-so-flashy players with the not-so-exciting storylines? The episodes that focus on Lisa and Marge instead of Homer or Bart? They might not be as exciting or consequential, but they deserve
their day in sun as well.
DL LT Overton
When the Cowboys drafted LT Overton with their second-to-last pick in the 2026 NFL draft, it was met largely with a shrug of indifference. Overton wasn't particularly flashy or mysterious. He didn’t have a high ceiling or a clean fit. He was the type of player who filled in the gaps and played in the background, and through most of training camp, that’s what he did.
Not that Saturday’s win over Arizona was massive departure from the norm for Overton. In 21 snaps he posted two tackles, including a sack and a tackle for loss. His grade from Pro Football Focus placed him just in the middle of the pack. But given the nature of his position and the style of his game, that’s about where he should grade most days.
At 6-foot-3, 274 pounds, Overton fits somewhere between defensive tackle and defensive end on most defenses. Physically gifted and abnormally athletic for a man his size, he has fit well into Christian Parker’s defense as a DT and occasional base DE. His play in the second preseason game proved he has what it takes to be a rotational lineman in the NFL and his highlights show he can seize opportunities when presented.
LT OVERTON YAAAA pic.twitter.com/usDAyuNp3i
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) August 23, 2026
RG Ajani Cornelius
Another late-round pick who’s avoided most of the media’s attention is second-year pro Ajani Cornelius. Playing a team-high 53 snaps on Saturday, Cornelius impressed as a backup offensive lineman. Making the move from tackle to guard has served him well in both preseason games, and against the Cardinals specifically, he logged the fourth highest PFF grade on the team.
The former Oregon tackle stands 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, bringing size and versatility to the Cowboys. With Drew Shelton struggling at tackle, Cornelius could join the likes of T.J. Bass and Nate Thomas as gameday depth across the line. His progression is very important for a unit that lacks depth.
Brian Schottenheimer talked about how Reddy Steward is always, well, Reddy to play. There’s a reason for it.
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) August 18, 2026
I talked with Reddy about how he’s always an active participant even when he’s on the sideline. He’ll even make check calls to teammates and hand signals. https://t.co/CPQZ0W2kuw pic.twitter.com/uijYUXCfZf
Slot CB Reddy Steward
Reddy Steward isn’t a household name or even a dark-horse player with a cult following. He’s a former undrafted free agent with limited upside. He’s a carryover from last season’s disastrous campaign and someone the Cowboys actively worked to replace in 2026.
Yet, all Steward’s done since the preseason, up to and including Arizona, is prove he will not go quietly into the night. Steward isn’t a ballhawk or imposing presence, but he’s a tenacious tackler who can play sticky coverage from the inside slot position. Steward has in “it” factor that could earn him a spot on the final roster.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 3 underdiscussed Cowboys from Cardinals game, the forgotten heroes
