Cowboys news: DeMarvion Overshown named Ed Block Courage Award winner

The latest amd greatest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here.

DeMarvion Overshown wins Ed Block Courage Award – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

The promising young star was given quite the honor.

The hard work, dedication and commitment to returning from knee surgery is the reason DeMarvion Overshown was voted by his teammates as the annual winner for the 2024 Ed Block Courage Award.

Unfortunately for the young linebacker, he’ll have to do all of that again next season as he now rehabs his other knee that was injured back on Dec. 9 against the Bengals.

But his initial recovery from an ACL injury he suffered in the 2023 preseason is the reason Overshown was voted for this annual NFL award, given to a player from each team has overcome adversity to return to the field.

“Can’t say enough about him. Great to see him back here – going through the rehab,” said head coach Mike McCarthy on Friday. “Thinking about the injury he went through last year and all the work he did to get ready for this year, he was an impact player for us. He was getting better each week. He has an excellent personality. We’ve definitely missed him since the injury but it’s great to have him back in town for the rehab process.

Trey Lance to get significant reps in Cowboys’ regular-season finale vs. Commanders, per report – Jared Dubin, CBS Sports

Dallas is finally going to let Trey Lance showcase himself.

The Dallas Cowboys — and the rest of the NFL — may be getting their first extended look on Sunday at former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance. Since arriving in Dallas, Lance has largely operated as the third-string emergency quarterback behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush, though he has been backing up Rush since Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring tear earlier this year.

In the regular-season finale, according to NFL Media, Lance is expected to get a lot of work.

The San Francisco 49ers traded up to select Lance with the third pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He sat for most of his rookie season behind Jimmy Garoppolo, making two spot starts but otherwise operating as the backup and taking the very-occasional short yardage run.

The Niners handed Lance the starting job the following offseason, expecting to trade Garoppolo. Instead, they were unable to find a trade partner and came into the season with Garoppolo as Lance’s backup. Lance then broke his ankle early in Week 2, so Garoppolo resumed the starting role. When Garoppolo himself went down with an injury, Brock Purdy stepped into the lineup and never relinquished the job.

At the tail end of training camp in 2022, the Niners sent Lance to Dallas in exchange for a fourth-round pick. The Cowboys have kept him on the bench ever since — even as they saw their starter lost to a season-ending injury, and even as they were eliminated from the playoffs. Now, it appears we might finally get a chance to see Lance in action for the first time in quite a while.

Cowboys injury report: Donovan Wilson, Mazi Smith questionable – LP Cruz, Blogging The Boys

The Cowboys are reasonably healthy heading into Week 18.

Defensive back Kemon Hall (hamstring) did not practice this week and has been ruled out. Linebacker Nick Vigil (foot) managed to get a limited practice today and is questionable. Micah Parsons (wrist) was a full participant and has no injury designation for this week. Mazi Smith (pelvis) was limited again today, and he too, is questionable.

Also deemed questionable is Donovan Wilson (knee). Jalen Brooks (calf), Jourdan Lewis (elbow) and Jalen Tolbert (finger) were full participants and have no injury designation. T.J. Bass is also good to go.

Mike McCarthy wants to return to the Cowboys; Jerry Jones has these factors to weigh first – David Moore, Dallas Morning News

The Cowboys have plenty to consider when it comes to Mike McCarthy’s future with the organization.

Owner Jerry Jones set all of this in motion by allowing McCarthy and his staff to enter the final year of their contracts. Now it’s time to make a decision.

The Dallas Morning News has had background discussions with multiple principals in recent weeks. Cut through all of the machinations and posturing and deadlines and those people believe it comes down to how Jones ultimately views this disappointing season.

Is it a referendum on the job done by McCarthy and his staff, or on the approach he and son Stephen took in building this team?

If Jones lands on the first option, he’ll likely let McCarthy walk. He’ll be effusive in his praise for what McCarthy brought to the organization then go about the business of finding a replacement so he can sell the hope and excitement that comes with a new face on the sidelines.

But if Jones acknowledges he was culpable in what took place, that in trimming the payroll to accommodate extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb and the eventual signing of Micah Parsons he handcuffed McCarthy and his staff, he’ll likely lean toward keeping the head coach he respects and genuinely likes.

Jones has given no indication to those in the building which way he’s leaning. That’s not surprising. This has always been his approach. The more information Jones collects, the closer he nears a major decision and the quieter he becomes.

Decisions on these in-house free contributors will be most significant part of Cowboys offseason – Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire

The Cowboys have several free agents in the building to decide on.

Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has been an excellent player for the price of a third-round pick, but in a weak defensive tackle market, his price could skyrocket. Odighizuwa is slightly less productive than Nnamdi Madubuike of the Baltimore Ravens, but his projected market is in that same range. At $20 to $25 million, Odighizuwa won’t be worth the cost for Dallas, and the team will need to use an early draft selection for his replacement.

Cornerback Jourdan Lewis might have priced himself out of Dallas with his play in 2024, but the injury to Treven Diggs might be enough to force the Cowboys’ hand. A multiyear contract will be necessary, and a cap hit of under three million isn’t enough this time. Lewis has shown an ability to perform in multiple defensive schemes, and Jerry Jones will find a way to keep him on the roster, if necessary, as Diggs insurance.

Rico Dowdle was given the role of top running back in Week 12 against the Washington Commanders. In the next six contests, he accumulated 605 yards on 120 attempts, an average of over five yards per carry. Being a 1,000-yard rusher without a ton of tread on his tires could give Dowdle a market, but he isn’t an explosive runner, and he has a lengthy injury history, so his market is unlikely to explode.