Shavon Revel

Cowboys Activate LB DeMarvion Overshown, CB Shavon Revel

NOVEMBER 14: Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones confirmed on 105.3 The Fan (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) that Revel would make his NFL debut on Monday, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Overshown is expected to be on a pitch count, per Machota, though the 25-year-old linebacker said that he wanted to be on the field when “a play needs to be made.”

NOVEMBER 11: The Cowboys’ defense has been one of the NFL’s worst units this year, to the point the team made two deadline-day deals — for Logan Wilson and Quinnen Williams — to help stabilize it. When those two players debut with Dallas, the team will have more reinforcements en route.

DeMarvion Overshown and Shavon Revel are moving onto the 53-man roster Tuesday, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. The Cowboys will activate the third-year linebacker from the reserve/PUP list and the rookie third-round cornerback from the reserve/NFI list.

Each player’s 21-day activation clock would have expired today, a season-ending development, had the Cowboys not followed through with the expected activations. Both are expected to debut against the Raiders in Week 11, per WFAA’s Ed Werder. The team also placed safety Juanyeh Thomas on the reserve/non-football illness list, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds.

Overshown is coming back from a severe knee injury sustained in December 2024. The 2023 draftee has suffered two ACL tears since entering the NFL. Revel has been on the shelf since September 2024 after sustaining an ACL tear during his final East Carolina season. Next to nothing has gone right for the Cowboys’ defense this season, but the unit having four starter-level cogs returning at once does stand to provide a boost — as the club attempts to mount a last-ditch wild-card push.

While the topic of a 3-5-1 team being a deadline buyer has generated considerable debate, the Cowboys made that move by piecing together a surprising trade package — a 2027 first-rounder (the higher of Dallas’ two firsts), a 2026 second and defensive tackle Mazi Smith — to obtain Williams. As Williams will take his place as a D-line starter, Overshown has a path back to a first-string role at linebacker. He and Wilson will be tasked with helping that unit, which has been a low-priority position in Dallas for a while.

Week 11 has loomed as Overshown’s return point for a bit; he went down in Week 14 last season. In addition to suffering his second ACL tear as a pro, Overshown sustained MCL and PCL tears to lengthen his recovery timetable. A 2023 third-round pick, Overshown played well in a 13-game sample last season. He registered 90 tackles (eight for loss) and came through with an impressive five sacks despite manning an off-ball LB role in Mike Zimmer‘s defense. Overshown has now had three weeks to practice in Matt Eberflus‘ defense.

Pro Football Focus ranks both Kenneth Murray and Shemar James as bottom-10 linebackers (among qualified options) this season. The Cowboys have Jack Sanborn on IR as well. Wilson and Overshown should see immediate playing time, though it would not surprise if the latter is brought along slowly. Still, this represents a key stretch for Overshown, who will need to show sustained health if a lucrative second contract — from the Cowboys or another team — is considered. He has missed 30 games through 2 1/2 seasons.

Revel’s debut was expected to commence earlier than Week 11. A return within the Cowboys’ first five games was viewed as likely, with an earlier report pegging September as in play. It would then stand to reason for Revel to be brought along slowly as well. Though, it will be interesting to see how cautious the Cowboys will be with both recovering talents, as they are in danger of falling out of playoff contention — largely because of the defense’s struggles.

Viewed as a first-round talent before his injury, Revel still declared for the draft after his lost final college season. His return comes at an opportune time, as Trevon Diggs is on IR with a concussion. Diggs and DaRon Bland have struggled to stay healthy, and the Cowboys have fared poorly in coverage this season. Revel’s usage will be interesting to follow. While Diggs is more likely than not to be cut in 2026, Bland and Revel profile as a potential long-term tandem.

Cowboys Notes: Wilson, Overshown, Revel

After the Bengals reduced his playing time, linebacker Logan Wilson requested a trade out of Cincinnati in late October. The Bengals granted his wish a few hours before the deadline on Tuesday, sending him to the Cowboys for a 2026 seventh-round pick. The Bengals received other offers for Wilson, but they liked the Cowboys’ the best, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Considering the meager return the Bengals accepted for Wilson, it’s fair to say other teams weren’t beating down the door for the 29-year-old. The Colts, Bills, and 49ers were mentioned as speculative fits for Wilson a couple of weeks ago, though it’s unclear if any of those teams joined the Cowboys in making an offer.

A third-round pick from Wyoming in 2020, Wilson became a full-time starter in his second season. In the midst of a stretch in which he piled up 100-plus tackles four seasons in a row, Wilson signed a four-year, $37.25MM extension in August 2023.

The Cowboys didn’t request any adjustments to Wilson’s deal, which runs through 2027, and they were willing to take on his remaining $2.68MM base salary for this year. That may have helped tip the scales in their favor.

Wilson started in seven of eight appearances with the Bengals this year and totaled 40 tackles, but rookies Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight have taken over as their primary linebackers. The Bengals’ defense checks in at last in the NFL, while the Cowboys own the league’s second-worst unit.

The 3-5-1 Cowboys will hope the acquisitions of Wilson and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, picked up in a pre-deadline blockbuster with the Jets, help turn the tide. Dallas also has a couple of in-house reinforcements set to make their 2025 debuts. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that the team plans to play linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Shavon Revel after it comes off its bye this week (via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News).

Overshown, who missed his rookie year in 2023 with a torn ACL, returned last season to post 90 tackles, five sacks, four passes defensed, and an interception in 13 games. However, Overshown suffered yet another serious knee injury – a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL – in Week 14. Overshown opened the 2025 campaign on IR and returned to practice on Oct. 20. The Cowboys also designated Revel to return that day. The third-round rookie from East Carolina tore his ACL last year, forcing him to begin his NFL career on the non-football injury list.

Along with Overshown and Revel, the Cowboys hope to welcome back injured starting safeties Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson in Week 11, according to Schottenheimer (via Tommy Yarrish of the team’s website). Hooker landed on IR with a toe injury after Week 4. Wilson, who leads the Cowboys with two interceptions, missed their previous two games with an elbow injury.

Cowboys CB Shavon Revel Set For Week 5 Return; Latest On LB DeMarvion Overshown

The Cowboys’ defense did not enjoy a strong performance in Week 2, with Russell Wilson throwing for 450 yards. The unit is set to remain shorthanded for now, but reinforcements are expected.

The cornerback position has been a sore spot early in the year, and DaRon Bland is currently sidelined. In spite of that, Dallas is not expected to pursue an outside addition. Part of the reason that is the case is the fact Bland’s injury is not seen as a long-term issue; rookie Shavon Revel is also on his way back into the fold.

Revel opened the year on Dallas’ reserve/NFI list, ensuring at least a four-game absence to begin the season. The East Carolina product continues to rehab the ACL tear which ended his college career and contributed to a fall down the draft order. When healthy, he will be a welcomed addition to a unit featuring Bland, Trevon Diggs and offseason trade acquisition Kaiir Elam. With respect to when a return will take place, ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes Revel is believed to be on track to play in Week 5.

That is encouraging news for Dallas’ defense, a group which is still thin at the linebacker spot. DeMarvion Overshown is on the reserve/PUP list thanks to the knee injury resulted in ACL, MCL and PCL tears late last season. The 25-year-old said in June he was ahead of schedule in his lengthy recovery process, although no firm timetable for a return has been stated. Per Graziano, the Cowboys expect Overshown to be available at some point in October or November.

After missing his rookie season with a different ACL tear, the Texas product thrived when on the field last year. Overshown served as a defensive starter, collecting 90 tackles and five sacks in 13 games. Strong production will be expected again once he is available, something which should be the case around the midway point of the campaign. Once Revel and Overshown return, a clearer picture of the Cowboys’ defensive upside should emerge.

Deuce Vaughn, La’el Collins Among Cowboys’ Cuts; Shavon Revel Lands On NFI List

Here are the Cowboys’ moves to pare their roster down to 53:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR (return designation):

Placed on reserve/PUP list:

Placed on reserve/NFI list:

Revel’s timetable has remained murky, but this placement offers some clarity. The third-round rookie cornerback will miss at least four games after being transferred from the active/NFI list to the reserve/NFI list. While the Cowboys had aimed for Revel to play in September, his father’s comment about the ACL rehab effort pointed to a slightly lengthier recovery timetable. Revel suffered the tear in September 2024; he will now be out more than a year since the injury.

Vaughn has been with the Cowboys since they drafted him in the 2023 sixth round, but the team overhauled its backfield this offseason. Dallas signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders before drafting two RBs (Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah). Vaughn could be retained on a practice squad deal, but teams cannot begin assembling their taxi squads until Wednesday.

Overshown is espected to miss most of the season after suffering a major knee injury in Week 14. Turner suffered broken ribs, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. While Turner and Mingo will count against Dallas’ in-season injury activations, dropping the number to six, Mafah will be carried on the active roster and then placed on IR.

Cowboys Aiming For CB Shavon Revel To Play In September

Shavon Revel is one of many Cowboys corners currently on the mend. The third-round rookie continues to rehab the ACL tear which ended his final college season.

Revel has yet to take part in training camp, and it remains to be seen when he will be cleared for game action. The 24-year-old recently encountered a setback in his rehab process, and more details on that front have emerged. Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS reports Revel had his knee drained in an effort to reduce swelling.

Notably, Hill adds the Cowboys still view Revel as being on track to play at some point in September. Being available in Week 1 would come as a surprise given his missed time so far, but Dallas aiming for an activation not long afterwards could lead to the team avoiding a reserve/PUP list designation. Players moved to that list during roster cutdowns are required to miss at least the first month of the season.

As a result, Revel beginning the campaign on the Cowboys’ active roster would be a positive sign for his early availability. The East Carolina product will be counted on to handle a defensive role during his rookie campaign, especially if Dallas continues to deal with other injuries in the secondary. Trevon Diggs is in danger of missing regular season time, although he too is aiming to be available at some point in September.

Diggs is entering a critical campaign based on the lack of guaranteed money in his contract beyond 2025. DaRon Blandmeanwhile, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and looms as a candidate to depart in free agency next spring (although extension talks are ongoing in his case). In any event, Revel profiles as a key figure of the Cowboys’ CB room for years to come.

As the offseason winds down, Revel will continue working his way back to full strength. By the time roster cuts take place, a decision will need to be made on whether he misses the first month or remains available within that span. It appears the latter option is on the table.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Campbell, Cowboys, Revel, Nabers, Giants, Miller

The Eagles nearly pulled off a trade with the Chargers to climb 10 spots, to No. 22, in the first round. It turns out, the defending Super Bowl champions were in talks to move as high as No. 18. While it could have been interpreted as an effort to land a prospect higher on the board, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the Eagles’ attempts were aimed at ensuring Jihaad Campbell became Philly-bound. Teams’ concerns about Campbell’s medicals affected his fall down the board, and the Eagles ended up moving up just one spot (via the Chiefs) to obtain Campbell.

This amounted to essentially a free fifth-round pick going to the AFC champions, who had their eyes on tackle Josh Simmons. Campbell rehabbed from shoulder surgery in time for an early-camp push to start alongside Zack Baun. Barring another setback, it would stand to reason the Alabama product will beat out Jeremiah Trotter Jr. for that role to open the season.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

  • In non-Micah Parsons Cowboys news, the team still is operating without two of its top three cornerbacks. While Trevon Diggs rehabs another knee injury that may lead to a delayed start to the season, Shavon Revel has yet to debut at practice because of an ACL tear suffered early during his final East Carolina season. Jerry Jones said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) the third-rounder is making progress, but a return timeline is elusive here. Revel’s father recently weighed in on the situation, labeling (via 105.3 The Fan’s Gavin Dawson) his son roughly six to eight weeks from returning. This would put the reserve/NFI list in play; such a move would shelve Revel for at least four games. Diggs is aiming to avoid the reserve/PUP list. These developments are affecting a Cowboys secondary that also has second-year backup Caelen Carson out for at least a month with a hyperextended knee, pointing trade pickup Kaiir Elam toward an expanded role.
  • Malik Nabers has been dealing with a toe issue since his LSU days. It caused him to miss the Giants‘ offseason program. No surgery has addressed this problem yet, but the team has not ruled that out. The murky situation is now leading to reduced practice time at training camp, according to ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan. Nabers, who also dealt with a shoulder issue during camp, frequently can be seen tending to his toe during practices; Giants trainers are helping him along as well. For his part, Nabers said he is “feeling great” and ready to build on last year’s impressive rookie season. With this being more of a management issue, the second-year wideout’s toe looks appears likely to continue as a talking point moving forward.
  • The Commanders‘ $6.1MM Von Miller contract includes $4.4MM in incentives. Sack-based bumps are present here, as Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes those start at the seven-sack threshold. Seven sacks lands Miller $500K, while another $500K would come his way by reaching nine. A total of $2.5MM is available through sacks. A Pro Bowl nod would bring another $500K, Florio adds. If Miller reaches 11 sacks and Washington wins its first NFC championship since 1991, Miller would receive another $700K. A Super Bowl win following an 11-sack Miller season would net the future Hall of Famer another $700K.
  • Jake Ferguson‘s four-year, $50MM Cowboys extension includes $30MM in total guarantees and ties him for the NFL’s seventh-highest-paid tight end; Florio confirms the full guarantee number is $21.41MM. Ferguson’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries are guaranteed at signing; his 2027 base ($6.25MM) shifts from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee in March 2027. The contract includes a $9.75MM 2028 option bonus, which is nonguaranteed, though Florio adds $1.59MM of Ferguson’s $2MM 2028 base salary is guaranteed for injury at signing. The deal includes another $9.75MM option bonus in 2029, with a $2MM base salary for that year as well. Neither 2029 figure is guaranteed. The Cowboys could cut Ferguson in 2027 with a $7.2MM dead money charge.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/21/25

Training camps are underway around the league, bringing more and more roster adjustments every day. Here are the latest minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: WR Will Sheppard
  • Released: K Alex Hale

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: QB Dresser Winn

Minnesota Vikings

  • Placed on active/PUP: TE Gavin Bartholomew, LB Chaz Chambliss

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: CB Kam Alexander, DT Justin Rogers
  • Waived/NFI: CB Zy Alexander

Martin, a 12-year veteran who signed with the Panthers this offseason, is dealing with a minor hamstring injury, per Joe Person of The Athletic.

The Cowboys’ trio of cornerbacks were all expected to be placed on their respective lists given where they are in the rehab process, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. The same is true of Overshown, who recently shared a positive update on social media (via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk).

An eye injury will sideline Hale for several weeks, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, forcing the Packers to release him. Hale was not expected to push Brandon McManus for the starting job in Green Bay, but the team will need another kicker for training camp.

The Seahawks swapped undrafted cornerbacks, adding Alexander out of Oregon and waiving Alexander with a non-football injury designation. Rogers, meanwhile, was signed after a successful tryout.

CB Kaiir Elam Expected To Play Big Role In Dallas

The Cowboys’ front office has been busy during the offseason, sending away lots of draft capital to bring in players like George Pickens, Kenneth Murray, Joe Milton, and Kaiir Elam. Pickens was clearly brought in to be WR2 across from CeeDee Lamb, Murray will fill in for the loss of Eric Kendricks, and Milton will be QB2 behind Dak Prescott. Elam, though, comes into an interesting situation. While he was never a full-time starter during his three years in Buffalo, Elam is expected to have a significant role on the Cowboys defense, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.

While Elam never quite lived up to his first-round status with the Bills, he put forth fairly consistent performances each season. Though injuries have caused him to miss significant time (22 of a possible 51 games) in Buffalo, Dallas will be hoping he can come through during a time when injuries are hitting the team hard.

Last season, the Cowboys saw both Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland miss significant amounts of time. Bland quickly got back up to speed and began to show signs of returning to the All-Pro greatness he displayed in 2023. Diggs, though, is working his way back from knee surgery, and while he is aiming for a return by the time the season opener rolls around, his timeline for return is certainly in question. Mix in the loss of Jourdan Lewis to Jacksonville in free agency after a strong year in the slot, and the team has several questions to answer at the cornerback position.

Part of the solution could be third-round draft pick Shavon Revel, who was receiving first-round buzz prior to suffering a torn ACL early into his final season at East Carolina. Revel should be ready to play by the time the regular season begins, but he’s not projected to return until sometime mid-training camp.

With things the way they are, Machota makes it clear: “Bland is one starter, Elam is another.” As we discussed at the end of May, Bland has been working more this offseason in the slot. He’s excelled both inside and outside during his short time in Dallas, which makes him extremely valuable to the team in this situation. In a contract year, Bland likely isn’t going to want to establish himself as a nickelback, considering the highest-paid nickelback in the NFL (Taron Johnson, $10.25MM per year) makes just over half the salary of the highest-paid outside cornerback (Denzel Ward, $20.1MM per year). He’ll need to hope, instead, that the Cowboys will reward him for his flexibility and versatility.

So, Bland and Elam are starting, then when an additional cornerback comes on, it could be Revel that comes in, shifting Bland inside. Or it could be Israel Mukuamu coming into the slot, keeping Bland out wide. Mukuamu has never really played significant snaps in any season, but last year, he saw more time at nickelback than he did at any other secondary position.

When Diggs comes back, things will be clearer. He and Bland will start together, and Bland can shift inside whenever Elam or Revel come in for sets that require more defensive backs. Until then, though, Elam is expected to play a major role in stabilizing the position group to open up the season.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/2/25

We’re getting our first batch of 2025 NFL Draft pick signings, and more are soon to come with rookie minicamps on the horizon. Here is our first group of mid- to late-rounders to sign their four-year rookie contracts:

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Philadelphia Eagles

Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Won’t Be Ready For Training Camp

Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs is not expected to be ready for training camp as he works his way back from knee surgery, per Clarence Hill of DLLS Sports.

Injuries have not been kind to Diggs over the last two years. He tore his ACL after just two games in 2023, requiring an extensive rehab process that sidelined him until August 2024. He played through a calf injury to start the first 10 games of the season before his knee flared up, sidelining him for two games. He returned to played a full game in Week 14, but was shut down for surgery shortly after.

The Cowboys were frustrated with how Diggs handled his recovery in 2023, according to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, particularly his absence at team facilities during his rehab. When he injured the same knee in 2024, the team had renewed concerns, something team owner and general manager Jerry Jones hinted at recently.

“He’s more subject to injury. He’s learned that one time,” said Jones when asked about Diggs before the draft (via Watkins). “My point is, I have a lot of hope that his actual rehab and experience from the time before is really helping him out, and I think it has.”

Jones added that Diggs is “working hard” and hopes that his commitment to his rehab process will allow him to come back “quicker” and “sounder.”

Diggs’ absence at the start of the season could put pressure on third-round pick Shavon Revel to play early as a rookie. However, the Eastern Carolina product is recovering from a knee injury of his own and is not expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

A mid-camp return is more likely for Revel, whose torn ACL was repaired by Cowboys team orthopedis Dr. Dan Cooper, according to ESPN’s Ed Werder. That connection may have given Dallas more confidence in drafting Revel after he fell below his second-round draft projection.