Dallas Cowboys News & Rumors

Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown To Return To Practice

The final stage of DeMarvion Overshown‘s return to the lineup will begin shortly. The third-year linebacker is set to practice for the Cowboys this week.

Overshown indicated on X Monday morning that his practice window would open. The news has since been confirmed by COO Stephen Jones. Once the Cowboys officially bring Overshown back onto the practice field, they will have 21 days to activate him. Using most or all of that time could be necessary.

“It will probably take the full, allotted three weeks,” Jones said when speaking about Overshown during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “I know he’s fired up. I know the training staff is fired up.”

As of June, Overshown was ahead of schedule in his recovery from the ACL, MCL and PCL tears which ended his 2024 campaign. That was already the second massive knee injury of his NFL career, as the Texas product was sidelined for his entire rookie campaign. The Cowboys have been targeting a return at some point in November, though, and today’s news points further in that direction.

Dallas’ linebacking corps has drawn criticism for its role in the team’s poor showings on defense to date. A trade aimed at helping the unit could be in store, but expectations are high for internal improvement once Overshown is back in the fold. The 25-year-old racked up 90 tackles and five sacks in 13 games prior to suffering his latest knee injury. He did so while handling a defensive snap share of 83%. A similar workload could be in store upon being activated.

The Cowboys’ defense is dealing with a number of other important injuries on defense, with the secondary in particular being a unit still far from full strength. That could remain the case for the time being, but getting Overshown back in the fold will be critical. The Cowboys will no doubt proceed with caution in terms of moving forward with an activation once his window opens, but a 2025 debut can be expected shortly.

Cowboys Expected To Explore Splash Trade

OCTOBER 19: While Dallas will be a team to watch on the trade front, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the team’s calls to date have been “exploratory” at best. As such, a blockbuster swap being worked out during the middle of the season remains unlikely.

OCTOBER 17: The Cowboys’ 2-3-1 start to the 2025 season has not deterred owner and de facto general manager Jerry Jones from signaling his interest in buying at this year’s trade deadline.

Earlier this week, he all but waved the draft picks acquired in the Micah Parsons deal, and recent reports have further indicated Dallas’ interest in making a major addition. One linked the Cowboys to Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, and another from Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson mentions Hendrickson and Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons as Jones’ potential targets.

Hendrickson would fill the Cowboys’ major need for a veteran edge rusher. Though his counting stats of four sacks and three tackles for loss are behind the pace of his last two seasons, his 22.6% pass rush win rate is seventh among edge rushers (min. 50 pass-rushing snaps), per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That is actually slightly above his 20.8% and 20.0% marks in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The asking price for Hendrickson, per Robinson, ranged from a second-round pick to a third-rounder plus another Day 3 selection.

Simmons is on pace for a career-best season with 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss in six games and also leads all interior defensive linemen with 27 pressures and a 19.9% pass rush win rate (min. 75 pass-rushing snaps), according to PFF. However, he seems like a less obvious fit for Dallas’ defense. Sure, the Cowboys would arguably have the league’s best trio of defensive tackles in Simmons, Kenny Clark, and Osa Odighizuwa, but their defense rarely features three defensive tackles on the field at the time.

The potential redundancy is a long-term issue, too. Clark was just acquired in the Parsons trade with a contract, partially because he had multiple years left on his contract, and Odighizuwa signed a four-year extension earlier this year. Simmons’ deal runs through 2027 with guaranteed money in 2026.

Simmons would also cost a first-rounder plus a mid-round pick or a “serviceable starter,” per Robinson. That is a steep price to pay considering that Dallas has already invested plenty in the interior of their defensive line, including an intentional effort to acquire a veteran DT in the Parsons deal. Given the Cowboys’ current roster picture, Hendrickson would seem to make significantly more sense as a trade target in the coming weeks.

Cowboys Activate Caelen Carson From IR; Off-Field Concussion Sidelines Trevon Diggs

The Cowboys have activated cornerback Caelen Carson from injured reserve ahead of their Week 7 matchup with the Commanders, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Carson landed on IR before Week 1 with a hyperextended knee, but returned to practice as soon as he was eligible at the beginning of October. He has been a full participant in practice for the last two weeks and should be full-go on Sunday.

Carson’s activation comes at a crucial time for the Cowboys. Their defense has allowed the most passing yards per attempt and per game to opposing offenses this year, and they will be without starting cornerback Trevon Diggs this week. Diggs suffered a concussion in an accident at his home this week, according to Archer, sidelining the six-year veteran for Sunday’s game.

In a way, Diggs’ absence and Carson’s return gives Dallas an opportunity to shake up their secondary. Diggs has struggled to start the 2025 season, allowing a 68.8% completion rate when targeted along with 11.9 yards per target and 17.4 yards per completion, all career-worsts. Carson’s 2024 numbers in five starts are not much better, but Diggs has been playing poorly enough that almost any other option could be an improvement.

The Cowboys have also reduced Kaiir Elam‘s snaps in recent weeks, though he may return to a more prominent role with Diggs sidelined. Carson could find his way on the field as well, and Dallas has not been afraid to play second-year UDFA Reddy Steward in the slot, either.

The Cowboys also elevated running back Malik Davis from the practice squad for their Week 7 contest. Davis will add backfield depth after Miles Sanders‘ season-ending injury while also contributing on special teams.

49ers, Colts, Eagles, Cowboys Among Potential Suitors For Trey Hendrickson

All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson has emerged as a popular name in trade talks following an offseason contract saga with the Bengals and their subsequent 2-4 start to the season.

The 49ers are among the teams interested in trading for Hendrickson, though Cincinnati is reportedly not interested in moving him. Other expected suitors include the Colts, Eagles, and Cowboys, per Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline. Hendrickson is owed $9.8MM for the rest of the season if traded after Week 8 ($8.9MM if after Week 9, per OverTheCap), and the Bengals will likely want an acquiring team to pick up all of his remaining salary.

We noted when the Colts restructured Kenny Moore‘s contract earlier this month that general manager Chris Ballard could be clearing space for a big swing ahead of the trade deadline to take advantage of a surprising 5-1 start. Going after Hendrickson, one of the league’s premier edge rushers, would certainly fall into that category. Indianapolis does not necessarily need the pass rush help – their 16 sacks are tied for seventh-most in the NFL – but no individual player has more than 3.0 sacks. Instead, they have 11 defenders who have contributed to a sack this year; adding Hendrickson to that group would give them an elite individual sack-getter on top of a well-schemed pass rush.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has a reputation of being a big-name hunter on the trade market, but most of his higher-profile deals have come during the offseason. However, Philadelphia has a bottom-10 pass rush with only nine sacks as a team and no player with more than two. Nolan Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo are already on injured reserve, and Za’Darius Smith just retired, so the Eagles defense could definitely use reinforcements on the edge. Roseman’s aggressive cap management has given the team enough room to absorb’s Hendrickson’s contract, though it would tighten their budget for the rest of the season.

The Cowboys pass rush has predictably struggled following the departures of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, leading to one of the worst defensive units in the NFL. Jerry Jones recently hinted that he could be active ahead of the trade deadline, and he acknowledge that every asset would be on the table, including the picks acquired from Green Bay in the Parsons trade. The Cowboys could certainly use a player of Hendrickson’s caliber, as they currently have the ninth-fewest sacks in the NFL (11).

We heard recently that the 49ers see Hendrickson as “an ideal fit for their defense.” The team lost star pass rusher Nick Bosa to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3, and 49ers general manager John Lynch has made it known that he’s looking for help on the edge. That front office hasn’t been afraid to take in-season swings, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the team acquired a player of Hendrickson’s talent as they look to maximize their current core.

As mentioned, the Bengals have resisted any trade inquires for their star pass rusher. However, if the team doesn’t improve as the trade deadline inches closer, there’s a chance the team starts fielding offers.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

CeeDee Lamb Expected To Return In Week 7

After logging his second straight limited practice on Thursday, Cowboys No. 1 wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is trending toward a Week 7 return. Lamb has been out since he suffered a high ankle sprain in a Week 3 loss to the Bears. The Cowboys opted against an IR placement and a mandatory four-game absence for Lamb, though, and it appears he’ll play Sunday against the division-rival Commanders.

“I feel like I’m moving around, running around being me,” Lamb said (via Todd Archer of ESPN.com). “Happy as can be obviously just believing in my ankle. Obviously, I feel like it’s back to where I needed it to be.”

Lamb entered 2025 off three straight years of 100-plus catches and 1,100 or more yards, and he carried that production into the early going this season. The four-time Pro Bowler nabbed 16 catches for 222 yards in the Cowboys’ first two games, though his ankle sprain forced him out of the Chicago loss before he could record a stat.

The Cowboys still managed to put points on the board at a high clip without Lamb, scoring 104 during his three-game absence. They only went 1-1-1 during that span, though. They’ve started an underwhelming 2-3-1 thanks to a defense that ranks last in the NFL in yardage allowed and second from the bottom in points surrendered. Owner Jerry Jones hasn’t ruled out a significant trade to upgrade the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons-less defense before the Nov. 4 deadline. Bengals superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is a potential target.

Months before he sent Parsons to the Packers in a late-August blockbuster, Jones made another noteworthy deal in acquiring receiver George Pickens from the Steelers in May. Lamb’s injury has prevented him and Pickens from playing together as much as hoped, but they could comprise one of the league’s premier pass-catching duos for the rest of the season.

Like Lamb, Pickens has formed an excellent rapport with quarterback Dak Prescott. Already with 32 catches, Pickens is tied for first in the league in receiving touchdowns (six), and he ranks third in yards (525). The Prescott-Lamb-Pickens trio could be a problem for Washington’s 23rd-ranked pass defense on Sunday.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/16/25

Today’s practice squad moves:

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

New England Patriots

Jerry Jones Willing To Deal Packers Picks In Right Trade

A loss on Sunday dropped the Cowboys to 2-3-1, although there have been some signs of life. Dallas has collected 178 points through six games, good for third in the NFL. Much of that production has come without offensive star CeeDee Lamb, with the likes of George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, and Javonte Williams stepping up.

On the flip side, the Cowboys are rostering one of the worst defenses in the league, as the team’s 184 points allowed is the second-worst mark in the NFL. Jerry Jones believes his team is close to contention and could patch up the defense with some trade acquisitions. In a bit of an ironic twist, the Cowboys owner also acknowledged that he’d consider dealing some of the assets he acquired when he traded away defensive star Micah Parsons.

[RELATED: Cowboys Endorse DC Matt Eberflus]

“If we can improve our team and it makes sense for what we give up in the future, all of it’s there,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “We have major, major, major resources that we wouldn’t have had had we not made that trade. … I promise you, yours truly or anybody associated with the Cowboys has got our eyes really opened to ways we can help this defense and certainly don’t want to preclude anything on offense, either.

“There’s nothing untouchable in our resources to help our team. And there’s no way that I’m at a point right now to where I would not do something because of where we are into the season, six games. I would go as early as I would if we were talking three games back.”

The Parsons trade sent shockwaves through the league, and his subtraction from the Cowboys defense is a big reason why that unit is struggling at the moment. Still, there’s no denying that the front office received two worthwhile assets in the trade, with Green Bay sending a pair of first-round picks to Dallas. The Cowboys are minus a 2026 third-round pick that was sent to the Steelers in the Pickens trade, but the team is otherwise armed with all of their early- and mid-round picks.

While it seems unlikely that a defensive player would become available that would warrant a first-round pick, it should still be encouraging for Cowboys fans that their owner is willing to deal from their stockpile of draft selections. The team’s performance over the coming weeks will surely influence the organization’s approach to the trade deadline.

Besides potential acquisitions, the Cowboys are also counting on some returning players to add a spark to their defense. Jones said the return of DeMarvion Overshown could influence how the team approaches the trade deadline, per Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports. The linebacker is still working his way back from a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL suffered towards the end of the 2024 season, and it’s uncertain if he’ll be back to his former form when he returns to the field. After missing his entire rookie campaign, Overshown showed flashes in 2024, finishing with five sacks and eight tackles for loss.

Cowboys Endorse DC Matt Eberflus

Especially in the wake of the Micah Parsons trade taking place one week before the start of the season, the Cowboys entered 2025 with questions on defense. That side of the ball has indeed been a sore spot so far.

Through Week 6, Dallas sits at the bottom of the league in total defense and 31st in points allowed. As such, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has increasingly drawn criticism for his performance to date. The former Bears head coach is in his second Cowboys stint, and it is not in danger of ending any time soon.

“Matt Eberflus is a damn good football coach,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said when asked about potential staffing changes (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “We have to perform better. But I’ve been him, so part of me being in [the defensive meeting room] is to help as an asset, to tell him, ‘I believe in him. I understand what he’s going through…’ We’re gonna ride this thing out. And we’ll play better. We really will.”

After his first Cowboys stint – as the team’s linebackers coach – Eberflus spent four years as defensive coordinator of the Colts. Indianapolis posted a top-10 finish in points allowed three times under Eberflus, and he parlayed that strong coordinator showing into a head coaching gig. Things did not go according to plan in Chicago, though, and the 55-year-old was fired before his third season in charge was complete. Improvement will be needed if Eberflus is to rebuild his stock during his current Cowboys tenure.

“He’s had tremendous experience,” owner Jerry Jones said on today’s 105.3 The Fan appearance when offering an additional endorsement of Eberflus (h/t Machota). “He’s dealt with adversity. He’s had some great successes… I jumped at it when we had the chance to get him. I still feel as strongly [about him as the day we hired him].”

The Cowboys currently lead the league in total offense and rank third in the NFL in scoring. That has only resulted in a 2-3-1 record, however, in large part due to the shortcomings of Eberflus’ unit. It will be interesting to see if trades and/or free agent pickups are sought out to bolster the defense over the coming weeks. In any case, Eberflus’ job security early in his return to Dallas should not be regarded as uncertain at this point.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/11/25

Here are the minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations heading into the sixth Sunday of the NFL season:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Manu was ruled out for this week with a knee injury after making the first start of his career with Detroit. Unfortunately, he’ll miss the team’s next three games, as well, after being placed on injured reserve.

Wright will fill in as placekicker for the Titans in Week 6. Regular kicker Joey Slye has been ruled out with a calf injury after missing practice all week.

Avery in Cleveland and Walton in Carolina are both being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third time this year. If either of their respective teams want them to be active for another game, they will need to sign them to the 53-man roster.