FRISCO — The anticipated return of linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is here.
The excitement is tempered with the loss of his teammate, defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
The Cowboys are still emotional when talking about the passing of Kneeland, who died by suicide Nov. 6.
Overshown spoke with reporters on Friday afternoon from the Ford Center about his return from knee surgery and about Kneeland.
Cowboys
Overshown targeted his return from knee surgery to the second half of the season. He circled the Thanksgiving Day game against Kansas City. He wanted to win the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award.
He had so many goals.
Those goals are still there, but he’s got something else on his mind.
He opened his news briefing, making a statement about his friend. A person he said loved him. He loved him back, too.
“A brother, a teammate and a great human,” Overshown said. “Over the past couple of days, week, I myself, not speaking for my teammates, but I’m sure some of them, in and out of sadness. You lose anybody in your family, but when you lose a brother like Marshawn, who lights, who brightens up the room, even not knowing the darkness he was going through.
“He was still able to come up here and be the light for so many other people and for him just being there for me. He was one of the guys I saw almost every day after my surgery because he’d be here in the building. So, being able to laugh with him, get that chuckle from him, it was something you look forward to every day.”
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, right, is knocked down after throwing a pass by Dallas Cowboys’ DeMarvion Overshown (13) and Marshawn Kneeland (94) in the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Sue Ogrocki / AP
Overshown, a 2023 third-round pick from Texas, displayed skills as a fast-moving sideline-to-sideline player during training camp. He tore the ACL in his left knee during a preseason game that rookie season.
He returned in 2024, playing 13 games before suffering an injury to his right knee. Three ligaments were damaged. The ACL was torn, which was surgically repaired; the MCL tore off the bone, so that was reattached. The PCL healed on its own.
When you hear about three ligaments needing repair, it gives you pause about the health of a player so young, 25, long term.
But Overshown attacked rehab each time with a diligence that’s allowed him to return ahead of schedule. So, instead of returning on Thanksgiving Day, he’s coming back Monday night at Las Vegas.
He’ll play on a pitch count, and could start the game as the weakside linebacker with either Logan Wilson or Kenneth Murray Jr. starting at middle linebacker and Marist Liufau playing strong side in the base defense.
On passing downs, Overshown will see time, and when he’s not, Shemar James will take his spot.
While all this football stuff is important, it’s understandable how the emotions of losing Kneeland may hit the heart. During the two days of media availability, every player has talked about the effect Kneeland had on him. They talked about guilt, comforting each other and learning more about themselves as men and as a team.
It was important for players to express themselves. To show how vulnerable they are to each other.
“This is something that we will never move on from,” Overshown said.
He admitted his return from injury, after not playing in a game for over 300 days, is going to be hard.
Then he reminds himself of Kneeland and what he would want.
“I figured out I have performance anxiety before games,” Overshown said. “But during that time, I told our psychiatrist I feel like that’s my moment to power up. I feel like I’m going to transform. When I start shaking, I feel like that’s a superhero coming out of me.
“I know there’s going to be a lot of mixed emotions just being happy by being out there, knowing that we’re walking out, with one less brother. But also know you waited 365 [days] waiting for this moment again. Be blessed [and] don’t take it lightly, have fun with what you’re doing.”
Twitter/X: @calvinwatkins
Hugs for healing: See photos from Cowboys practice at The Star
View Gallery
Cowboys’ Stephen Jones praises head coach Brian Schottenheimer for handling of trying week
The Cowboys’ first-year head coach has been thrust into a difficult situation, but has impressed those around him with his handling of it.
After arduous 430-day journey, Cowboys rookie CB Shavon Revel is ready for NFL debut
The Cowboys have high hopes for their third-round selection from last year’s draft, set to return from a torn ACL.
It’s time for all of us to embrace hard conversations Marshawn Kneeland’s death sparked
If we could all talk openly about our fears, maybe the number of suicides could be reduced.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.