Cowboys Stars Pushed Key Rookie Ahead of Week 11 Debut
In theory, if iron sharpens iron and all that, the Cowboys secondary should be razor sharp, and should have been so throughout the bulk of this NFL season. It hasn’t. In fact, with a battered safety bunch, plus with DaRon Bland a disappointment, Kaiir Elam merely serviceable and Trevon Diggs not healthy, it’s been arguably the worst secondary in the NFL this season.
Still, the Cowboys have one of the league’s best quarterbacks, Dak Prescott, and two receivers who would star on roster in the NFL: CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
For rookie third-round draft pick Shavon Revel, facing those two in practice for the past four months has raised his game, even as he is also working his way back from a torn ACL he suffered a year ago in college.
Revel revealed what practicing against those two players has made him think about NFL receivers as he prepares for his debut on Monday night against the Raiders. “It’s real,” he said. “It’s real, man.”
Shavon Revel Learned Much From Cowboys Stars
Revel said that trying to keep up with the speedy and elusive Pickens in Cowboys practice has been especially difficult.
“Especially George Pickens, man, slippery and slithery,” Revel said. “You know how he get. Definitely competition, I feel like they brought me back to myself, approach it every day like, these are the same guys you’ve been going against, you know. I can’t say too much about it because every day I feel like I am getting better, and every day I feel like I am making them better, too.
“That boy George, man, he makes you work. He will get you ready for game day.”
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys
Shavon Revel ‘Very Excited’ for Debut
For Revel, being dropped into action here in the midst of a season, at a time when the Cowboys are essentially in a must-win situation for weeks to come. will be a challenge. But he is joining a secondary that is currently ranked 31st in the NFL in coverage, via Pro Football Focus.
The challenge, he said, will be playing with energy and excitement, while also reeling himself in and keeping his play-to-play focus tight.
“I am very excited, not playing football for a whole year. I am very excited,” he said. “I just gotta focus on my details. A little rust coming back, but at the end of the day, I know what I gotta do. I know I gotta put that work in, I gotta take that step every day.
“Leading into it, it’s kind of nerve-wracking. But I know what I can do. I feel like everyone knows what they can do—I know my body, so I feel like I can go out there and play my game and be confident in it.”
There is a question, too, about trusting his knee and worrying about getting re-injured. Revel says he is trying not to think about that.
“I am not sure,” he said. “I will take that step-by-step every day. I don’t want to put that in my head. I want to come out here and do what I do and do it my best.”
Cowboys Playing With heavy Hearts
There’s the added element, too, of Monday being fraught with emotion because the Cowboys have not played a game since the death of teammate Marshawn Kneeland. Revel is using Kneeland’s death, and the friendship they struck up in training camp, as inspiration.
“It was hard on me, especially talking to him every day back in football camp back in California,” Revel said. “You know, he wants best for you. I looked at it as, ‘What would he want me to do?’ Taking a step forward, he wouldn’t want me to sit around and mope around all day, so I just took it like that.
“I have people I lost at home, and I wouldn’t say it did (motivate me) too much because I challenge myself. I am already self-motivated. Pushing myself to the limit.”
Jerry Jones Excited For Cowboys Defense As 6 Impactful Players Are Set to Play Against Raiders
When constructing his roster in the offseason, Jerry Jones did not imagine his Dallas Cowboys’ defense would struggle this much, costing them multiple games.
He believed that with Matt Eberflus leading the unit, they had enough pieces to keep them in winning positions. Jones did not expect them to be the best in the league, but he also could not envision them being this bad.
The Cowboys’ defense usually ranked between dead last and second from last in yards, and points allowed. They were leaking so much that the offense had to do a lot more in the games they won.
Then, when the offense struggled ever so slightly, the losses became lopsided to the extent that former players and analysts were pointing fingers at the billionaire.
After their embarrassing home loss to the Cardinals, it was announced that the Cowboys had traded for star defensive tackle
After their Week 10 bye, the duo is about to make its debut for their new team. That has Jerry Jones excited about their potential and also their playoff chances.
I’m excited about really looking at the impact of getting six players that can interject themselves into the 25–26 players that are active in the game… There’s no question we’re going to be improved.
Jerry Jones told 105.3 The FAN
#DallasCowboys owner Jerry Jones on how excited he is to get DeMarvion Overshown, Quinnen Williams, Logan Wilson, etc., on the field Monday against the Raiders:
“There’s no question we’re going to be improved...” pic.twitter.com/iA92Oi9gut — 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) November 14, 2025
It seems the 83-year-old is looking forward to when the 6 players he mentioned will help the others in the defensive unit, and together they will turn their season around.
Jerry Jones’ defense should look different this week
Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson are the new entrants into that Dallas Cowboys defense. The other 4 players Jerry Jones was referring to were existing players who were out injured.
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown has been activated after ending his season last year with multiple tears to his ACL, PCL, and MCL. They will also see rookie cornerback Shavon Revel take to the field for the first time since he ended his final college season with an ACL tear.
The defensive back believed he would have been among the first corners to be selected in this past draft if not for his injury. His addition will be a welcome boost for the team as they will not have star corner Trevon Diggs for a while.
Then there is defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey, who will add depth to the front seven. Most importantly, the Cowboys will be getting back starting safeties Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson.
Essentially, other than Winfrey, the Cowboys are getting six starters back. This means Jerry Jones’ defense will be unrecognizable when it takes on the Raiders on Monday at Allegiant Stadium.
Stephen Jones details how trading for Quinnen Williams was a unanimous decision
Even though Quinnen Williams is one of the better defensive tackles in the league, some believe them sending a 2027 1st round pick, a 2026 2nd round pick, and DT Mazi Smith was too steep a price. Stephen Jones details how everyone was on board despite that price.
Everyone was totally on board with making the trade. Obviously, it came at a price. But we think that Quinnen’s not only gonna be a big-time help to our defense this year, but for years to come.
Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The FAN
#DallasCowboys EVP Stephen Jones spoke to the @gbagnation about the move to acquire Quinnen Williams and how he'll provide an immediate boost to the run defense. Listen to their full interview wherever you get your podcasts! pic.twitter.com/6KBWWs7F1G
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) November 14, 2025
At just 27 years old, the franchise believes that the 300-pounder can anchor its defense for years. That is why everyone was ‘ok’ with the deal despite having to let go of potentially three future pieces.
