FRISCO, Texas – Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is over five months removed from his devasting ACL, PCL and MCL tear that he suffered in Week 14 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He's returned to the rehab group on the sidelines during the team's OTA periods and is optimistic about where he is in his recovery.
"It's going real good, I think it really couldn't be any better," Overshown said. "If it was better, I'd probably be out there playing right now. Where I'm at in my rehab, in my process, it's where I'm supposed to be plus some."
While Overshown is optimistic, the unfortunate reality is that he tore the three major ligaments in his knee, an injury that is not easy to return from. It's even more difficult considering Overshown suffered a torn ACL ahead of his rookie season in 2023.
That said, it makes the road to returning to full health a familiar one for Overshown, and one he knows will take time to reach the end of given it's very similar to his first recovery experience.
"I know it's a process; it's something we're not rushing just because I look good," Overshown said. "There's no need to rush the process. I'm going to come back when I'm 100%, when I'm ready, when I know I can tough the field and not have to look down and worry about my knee."
Overshown gave a lot of credit to Cowboys associate athletic trainer and director of rehabilitation Britt Brown for helping him along the way. Without question, Brown and the Cowboys will be extremely patient and careful with Overshown to ensure he's in a great place whenever it is he returns.
"If you ask me, I can do anything and everything," Overshown said. "But Britt [Brown], he dials it down, I started doing a little light jog this week, so that's a plus. I'm shuffling, backpedaling, doing all the small things, the beginning of the stages, I'm building into it."
"I'm thinking doing it the smart way, so maybe starting on PUP, maybe not if I'm feeling great, but like I said, I'm going to let Britt, the magic man, do the work. I'm just going to come up here and grind like I'm playing tomorrow… whenever they unleash me, I'm going to be ready to go."
When Overshown finally does return for the Cowboys, he'll do so as a part of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' defense. Eberflus, who has specialized in linebackers over the course of his career, has already given Overshown notes on what he needs to do to slow the game down, and take advantage of what he does best: Play fast.
"The smaller things, really playing smoother is playing faster," Overshown said on what he's learned from Eberflus. "I think early on in my career… I feel like most of my plays were just off my athletic ability, my willing to make plays."
"I feel like he's a coach that's going to put you in that spot, slow you down so you're making a play before it even gets to you. So those tackles at the line of scrimmage are going to turn into TFLs."
He'll also take the field in the number zero, the first Cowboy to ever wear the number in the team's history. After admitting he selfishly thought the number would be handed to him once he got drafted, Overshown is proud of the work he put in to be able to earn the right to wear it.
"It's something that I've been wanting since I got here, so getting it… the way I went about getting it, I think I was a little too greedy coming in just expecting it, but the way I went about it, earning it, I think I gained a lot of respect around the building." Overshown said.
"The fact that I get to wear it, it's a badge of honor. I'm looking forward to shining in it."
