Cowboys Get Expected Return Date For Key 3rd Year Starter – Report
The Dallas Cowboys defense has been the worst in the league by yards allowed/game through five weeks, allowing 412 on average per bout.
In fact, arguably the only reason they are lying at .500 five weeks into the season is due to the very impressive play of quarterback, Dak Prescott; who ranks second in the league so far this year in total passing yards; and the surprise explosion of free agent pickup, running back Javonte Williams, who is currently third in the league in rushing with 447 yards.
However, the Cowboys could be set to receive a boost for their run defense, as inside linebacker, DeMarvion Overshown, is believed to tracking to come back to the team by November, according to Jordan Schultz.
DeMarvion Overshown Close To A Return After Devastating 2024 Knee Injury
“Sources: Cowboys standout LB DeMarvion Overshown is nearing a return to practice, and the team expects to open his window later this month with the goal of having him playing by November.” Schultz wrote on Friday afternoon. “Overshown tore his ACL, PCL, and MCL last year amid a breakout season in which he recorded 84 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR, 8 TFLs, and 1 defensive TD.”“He’s worked relentlessly to get back — and his return is close. Massive news for Dallas.”
Having suffered that brutal knee tear against the Cincinnati Bengals in December 2024, it was believed by many after the game – including then head coach, Mike McCarthy, that the third year linebacker could end up having to miss the entirety of the 2025 season.
But now, having rehabbed well and gotten far further than where many thought he would be at this point in his recovery, the Texas alum and former third round is on the brink of making his long-awaited return after almost a year out.
What Will Overshown Bring To The Cowboys’ Defense Upon Return?
The first point to add would be that it is unlikely that Overshown will be able to operate near or at the level he was playing at prior to his devastating injury last winter.
Returning from an injury as severe as a tri-ligament knee tear not only takes substantial time to return to the game itself, but will also require an adjustment period as Overshown retrieves the last stages of his elite-level athleticism.
Offseason trade acquisitions, Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn, have not managed to provide consistent, high-quality play at the heart of the run defense, managing Pro Football Focus grades of 41.2 and 56.4 this season.
And with Sanborn now out, the Cowboys will be set to start a combination of a fifth round rookie in Shemar James, alongside one of the worst rated off-the-ball linebackers in football in Murray, in week 6.
Hopefully, the addition of Overshown can provide some much needed spark and life to a unit that has been one of the core weaknesses of a middle-of-the-road Dallas team towards the critical final months of the season.
Titans’ Injury News Sets the Stage for Crucial Raiders Showdown - What It Means for Their Chances of Back-to-Back Wins
The Tennessee Titans are officially down one important player in Week 6, but will be gaining an even more critical piece returning from injury. Head Coach Brian Callahan shared the list of players who will be out against the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday:
Starting kicker Joey Slye is amongst them, but starting right tackle JC Latham is not. Here’s everything you need to know about the Titans’ moving pieces as they seek back-to-back wins.
JC Latham Makes The Titans Offensive Line Whole
After a pair of days listed as “limited” in practice this week, Latham was a full participant on Friday. He’s going to technically be listed as questionable on the final injury report, but he’ll be out there on Sunday.
Latham played less than three quarters against the Broncos in Week 1 before aggravating the hip muscle he strained in joint training camp practices with Atlanta. He sat out Weeks 2-5 in an effort to get himself really, really right and hopefully avoid this becoming a nagging issue all season.
This is of course fantastic news for Cam Ward, Brian Callahan, and the rest of the Titans offense. After an offseason of excitement and hope tied to an offensive line poised to make a big leap, dealing with a less-than complete unit for the first quarter of the season has been excruciating to endure. It hasn’t all been bad, in fact the past couple weeks have been really encouraging in terms of OL play. But the impact of getting your best tackle back in the fold cannot go overstated.
I asked Callahan on Friday what finally having his full starting offensive line intact and ready to roll means for the team. "I think it does allow you, especially with the power that JC (Latham) and (Kevin) Zeitler bring you in the run game," he emphasized. "Those are two big, strong dudes that can move the line of scrimmage. That's helpful. It's a good test for JC because Maxx (Crosby) lines up on the right often, not every snap, but a lot. So that'll be a good test for him. We'll still manage that and make sure we don't just leave him by himself. The whole game will help for sure. But it does allow you when your protection can stay solid and you can keep the pocket firm and you can widen that cup and allow the quarterback to operate. It goes a long way in helping you. Potentially push the ball down the field more, giving some more life to some of the play action."
Maxx Crosby is one heck of a welcome back gift. But if there is just one game on the Titans schedule that you absolutely need a starting-caliber right tackle specifically for, it's this one. So it's a big boost that they do.
Titans Relying On Backup Kicker In Vegas
Starting kicker Joey Slye missed practice all week and won’t be available on Sunday, as he’s still working through a right calf injury. He suffered it during their day of work in Arizona, and had to fight through it throughout the game. He made a pair of short field goals despite it, but then missed an extra point as they were working to make a comeback. Turns out, the end of game chip-shot field goal to seal the victory was even more nervy behind the scenes than you probably already felt watching it live!
Kicking in his stead will be Matthew Wright, who was signed to the team's practice squad this week. Wright played in five games last season: one for San Francisco, two for Kansas City, and two right here in Tennessee. He hit 15 of 16 field goals in those games, with his only miss coming from 59 yards with the Chiefs. He went 4-for-4 as a Titan, and they're going to have to count on him extending his perfect streak with this organization for at least one more game.
