Giants Country

Eye on the Opponent: Cowboys Lose Two Very Promising Young Players in Preseason Loss

The Dallas Cowboys, who visit the New York Giants in Week 1 of the regular season, suffered a pair of potentially devastating injuries to a couple of young players.
Patricia Traina|
Eye on the Opponent: Cowboys Lose Two Very Promising Young Players in Preseason Loss
Eye on the Opponent: Cowboys Lose Two Very Promising Young Players in Preseason Loss

In this story:

New York Giants

The Dallas Cowboys, who, like every other NFL team, is trying to find some hidden gems they can work into the regular season game plans to catch opponents off-guard, have lost two young and promising-looking rookies to season-ending torn ACLs.

The New York Giants Week 1 opponent will be without linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and undrafted receiver turned tight end John Stephens Jr, both of whom went down with their injuries in Saturday’s 22-14 preseason loss to Seattle.

Overshown, the Cowboys third-round draft pick this year, posted nine tackles (three solos), putting him sixth on the Cowboys defense this summer. He was injured in the first quarter of the game while making a tackle. Overshown had been impressive in camp, but his absence now throws a monkey wrench into the Cowboys’ depth at inside linebacker behind projected starters Leighton Vander Esch and Damone Clark.

Stephens, who was injured while running a crossing route, is currently tied for the Cowboys team lead with six receptions. His 62 receiving yards rank second on the club, behind receiver Jalen Tolbert’s 95. 

Stephens is also one of three Cowboys to have one receiving touchdown this preseason. Despite being undrafted, Stephens had been making a strong push for a roster spot at a position where the Cowboys are looking to find answers to offset the free agency departure of Dalton Schultz to the Texans.

The Cowboys project second-year tight end Jake Ferguson as their new starter to replace Schultz. Behind him, the hope is that second-round draft pick Luke Schoonmaner can step in as TE2. Schoonmaner, however, missed time earlier this summer with an injury.

Then there is Peyton Hendershot, an undrafted free agent from Indiana who signed last year. Hendershot had been in competition with Stephens, but with the rookie now finished for the year, Hendershot appears to have a clearer path to the Cowboys roster unless Dallas looks to pick someone up off waivers after training camp cuts are made.

 

Published
Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

Share on XFollow Patricia_Traina
Home/Game Day