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Todd Archer
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown has marked precisely how long he has been sidelined from the field due to severe injuries, which included a torn anterior cruciate, medial collateral, and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee.
This past Wednesday, Overshown returned to practice for the first time in 317 days, setting his sights on making an appearance in the upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 16, which will be featured on ESPN’s «Monday Night Football.»
«Monday night primetime, I’ll be debuting wearing zero,» expressed Overshown, who is set to become the first Cowboys player to don No. 0 in an official game. «I’m eager for it. It’s going to be something remarkable. I’m ready to demonstrate just how fortunate I am.
«Many claim that recovering from this knee injury is immensely challenging, and that few manage to return to their previous level. I’m prepared to challenge that notion.»
«I recognized the severity of the situation when it occurred, so I didn’t dwell on it,» Overshown reflected. «I said, ‘Alright, this is my reality. I’m uncertain about the full extent of the damage, but I know I must work to come back.’
«All I needed was faith. That’s the essence of it. It was about having trust and confidence that what comes my way is meant for me.»
During Wednesday’s practice, Overshown engaged in individual drills and is expected to participate in 11-on-11 drills on Thursday. The Cowboys have a window of 21 days to either promote him to the 53-man roster or retain him on the physically unable to perform list throughout the season. Anticipations are that they will take the entire period before finalizing their decision.
«Essentially, it’s like a training camp for me,» Overshown noted.
Following his injury, it was expected that Overshown would miss the entirety of the 2025 season, but he set a personal target to return by Thanksgiving.
Now, he may achieve that goal a full ten days ahead of schedule.
Recent evaluations confirmed that his ligaments have healed and the knee’s structure is stable. The Cowboys are slated to conduct five additional practices over the next fortnight before their bye week on November 9. Overshown will keep collaborating with the medical team during the break, and, should everything progress well, he will be added to the roster.
Considering the current performance of the Cowboys’ defense — ranked 32nd in yards allowed per game and 30th in points conceded per game — the addition of Overshown is essential.
«Listen, I won’t try to overextend myself. I’ll focus on executing what I know I can handle,» Overshown stated. «Once I’m on the field, the possibilities are endless for me. I’m not saying that out of arrogance; I understand my contribution. Hearing comments like, ‘We need D-Mo to step up when he returns,’ doesn’t faze me. I’m confident in what I bring to the table. You all saw a glimpse last year, and I’m ready to deliver even more, so there’s no stress or pressure on me to perform beyond my capabilities.
«I know what I can achieve. Last year was merely me beginning to find my footing, so there is still much more to unveil.»
