The Dallas Cowboys suffered multiple blows to different position groups with injuries during Saturday’s preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. DeMarvion Overshown and John Stephens Jr. are out for the season with torn left ACLs, according to Michael Ghelken with the Dallas Morning News.
As for offensive tackle Matt Waletzko, the Cowboys will take things “day by day,” and surgery is not required for his right shoulder injury, according to Ghelken.
This round of injuries is heartbreaking, especially for the rookies that had two of the best training camps.
Dallas Cowboys Injury Updates
DeMarvion Overshown
The third-round 2023 NFL Draft pick had one of the most silent rises to camp from when he was drafted.
Overshown is a versatile player that played with much-needed physicality within the special-teams unit. He had multiple interceptions during camp and was a threat in the secondary.
Micah Parsons praised Overshown for being a playmaker in camp.
Overshown said some of Parsons’ advice included, “Let loose, play how you know you play. The guy that they drafted. Just go out there and be yourself; you ain’t got to do too much. Just go out there and play football,” and that’s precisely what he was doing.
Almost too sad to share but believe it says something about Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown that when Jalen Tolbert caught a long pass Saturday, he was only defender to stand from bench to celebrate. On Overshown’s next play, he is feared to have torn ACL. Brutal. MRI later today. pic.twitter.com/n5vzONzPlh
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 20, 2023
John Stephens Jr.
On the other hand, Stephens was an undrafted free agent shaking up the competition for both the receivers and tight ends. He was an early camp standout that easily got difficult touchdown grabs.
Hello John Stephens Jr.!
The UDFA out of Louisiana-Lafayette continues his strong camp #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/Txij1fpKEW
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) August 5, 2023
Stephens was a wide receiver that converted to the tight end position during camp, creating chatter about him possibly taking a veteran’s spot on the roster.
During the team’s first preseason game, Stephens hauled in a touchdown reception, which showed what a quarterback-friendly asset he was to the offense.
Matt Waletzko
Although Waletzko isn’t ruled out for the season like Overshown and Stephens, this is still a problematic issue for the Cowboys’ offensive line.
Initial reports said that Waletzko could have suffered a subluxation on his right shoulder, which is daunting for him since he suffered the same thing on his left shoulder last season.
With the line already lacking depth and Waletzko showing improvement to be the needed swing tackle, it’s a question as to who the next man up will be for the line. When Mike McCarthy was asked about Waletzko after the game, he mentioned that he was sending prayers but that it was a chance for the younger players to show out.
“If there is a position that’s been given a tremendous amount of opportunity this camp, it’s definitely been our young offensive linemen. So they’ll have a full week and an opportunity against [the] Raiders to step up,” said McCarthy.