Does Dallas Have a Linebacker Curse?
During the early fourth quarter of the Dallas Cowboys 27-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, rising star DeMarvion Overshown would suffer a season-ending injury, tearing his ACL, MCL, and PCL in his right knee. Overshown, only in his second season in the NFL, had already suffered a season-ending injury the year prior in his first preseason action versus the Seattle Seahawks. The 2024 season would essentially be Overshown's rookie season, in which he has shown to have superstar potential. Overshown, in his first season, would record a pick-six and five sacks, showing off impressive speed and tracking ability on the ball. A disappointing end to a standout year would hurt Dallas. An injury to a star linebacker happens to be a recurring scenario for Dallas; Overshown just happens to be the latest edition. Overshown joins two former Cowboy linebackers who happened to face injury concerns.
Sean Lee
Sean Lee was the first notable player to fall into this category. Lee would be selected as the 55th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He would quickly be looked upon to lead the Cowboys’ defense, where, for the most part, living up to those expectations, being one of the smartest players at his position for years. A Pro Bowl selection in 2015 and 2016, along with a first-team All-Pro in 2016, he had the accolades to back up his play. Unfortunately for Lee and Dallas, the question was never his ability to play football; it was his ability to stay on the field and be healthy. Lee would go on to miss several games a season in his career, having three different season-ending injuries. His most notable injury came in 2014 when Lee tore his ACL in OTAs. Dallas, despite missing their defensive leader, would go 12-4, bringing questions on how much better Dallas would have happened if Lee was not hurt.
Leighton Vander Esch
Similar to Lee, the Cowboys drafted Leighton Vander Esch to lead their defense. Chosen by Dallas as the 18th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he would be joining linebacker Jaylon Smith. Smith and Vander Esch would surprise Dallas and the NFL, becoming one of the best linebacking duos in the league. Vander Esch's performance would have him go on and earn a Pro Bowl selection in his rookie season. However, the following year, in 2019, is where Vander Esch's career-lingering injury would occur. He would go on to miss seven games due to a cervical neck stinger. The same injury would appear in a 2023 loss against the San Francisco 49ers, forcing Vander Esch to miss the remaining 12 games of the season. He would later go on to announce his retirement at the end of the season.
Overshown, despite the gruesome injury, remains adamant and confident about his return to the field. He was eager to get his surgery done right away, which he was able to do. The Cowboys’ defense will take a huge blow for the remainder of the season and possibly all of 2025. Unfortunately, they will have to look towards the future, as the duo of Micah Parsons and Overshown will have to be postponed for now.
