The Dallas Cowboys could be without linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and safety Malik Hooker for the next two games, coach Brian Schottenheimer said. Overshown suffered a hamstring strain during the season-opening loss to the New York Giants, while Hooker is dealing with a fractured forearm.
Overshown, the team’s middle linebacker, handles communication between the coaching staff and players on defense. Schottenheimer said the injury could keep him out for one to two weeks after he left Sunday’s game during the second half.
Hooker is expected to have surgery but will not be placed on injured reserve. That decision means he would not be required to miss at least four games. Schottenheimer said the recovery could take about two weeks, though the exact timetable was not yet clear.
Caleb Downs is expected to continue working as a safety and as a slot defender in passing situations. P.J. Locke is set to take the snaps Hooker normally would receive in those defensive packages. Schottenheimer said the Cowboys value Downs’ ability to move around but prefer to use him near the line of scrimmage.
The linebacker position will require a broader adjustment. The Cowboys primarily used rookie Jaishawn Barham alongside Dee Winters after Overshown’s departure, with Shemar James also playing several snaps. Schottenheimer identified Winters as the most experienced option and said the team could also use practice-squad players Curtis Robinson and Justin Barron. He described Robinson as a veteran and said the team has high expectations for Barron.
