FRISCO — Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown has previously said he hopes to be back on the field by the time the Cowboys play the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving.
His exact return timetable might not be that specific, but things are trending positively after he tore three ligaments, including his ACL, last year. He even indicated he could possibly return earlier.
“I don’t want to say that’s the target date,” Overshown said while he packed supplies and totes for victims of July’s Central Texas flooding, in partnership with UnitedHealthcare and Sanitas Medical Center, “but I feel like I’ll be playing football before Thanksgiving with the team.”
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Overshown tore his ACL on Dec. 9 last season. It was the second time he tore his ACL in as many years, though this one occurred on a different knee than his first. Overshown’s rookie season ended before it began when he tore the other ACL in the final preseason game of 2023.
Overshown made his NFL debut last season and, true to his speedy nature, took off running. He played in 14 games, recording 90 tackles and eight tackles for loss. The highlight play of his NFL career, so far, came on Thanksgiving last season against the Giants, when he tipped a pass to himself and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown. His season ended the following week in a Week 14 loss to the Bengals.
Overshown is familiar with the ACL recovery, so he understands the road back. He also understands what’s required, both mentally and physically.
“I’d say it’s hard when the faith is not there,” Overshown said. “I’ve always been the one to say, ‘What do I have to do next to make sure I’m ready when this point happens?’ Throughout the whole rehab and recovery process I knew there was going to be a point where I felt good enough to run around and play football again. That’s just having faith and trusting the work the doctors, the work the trainers, and the work you put in, yourself. Anybody that really trusts they put 100% of their hard work and effort into something, they know they’re going to be confident when they step back on the field.”
The Cowboys could use a defensive spark plug. They allowed 37 points in an overtime win over the New York Giants on Sunday.
There’s still plenty of time before Overshown can provide that. Still, he feels good about what he can do once he returns to the field.
“I’m getting there,” he said. “It’s definitely to a point where we’re getting the last clearance from my surgeon and now it’s just easing me back into playing football. The knee is healthy, I’m moving around fast and strong. Now it’s just about being smart with the timing.”
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