Recent bad news gives forgotten Cowboys starter a chance it didn't seem he'd get again
With the brutal news about Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown being out for the year and potentially 2025 as well, it's difficult to take a glass half-full view of the linebacker position, if not impossible. And yet, there are a couple of players to talk about: One who is a rookie and another who is […]
With the brutal news about Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown being out for the year and potentially 2025 as well, it's difficult to take a glass half-full view of the linebacker position, if not impossible.
And yet, there are a couple of players to talk about: One who is a rookie and another who is a third-year linebacker who's been relegated to the bench. And they happen to be one of the biggest storylines to monitor over the last four Cowboys games of the year, starting in Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers.
Liufau, the fifth-round rookie, has earned a lot of praise since joining the team thanks to his football IQ. Upon replacing Overshown on Monday, he recorded 1.5 sacks. Now, he's set to take on a bigger role as he appears to be the "next man up" after Overshown. It'll be him and Kendricks starting.
"He's been good all year long," Zimmer told reporters. "Obviously he's going to get more playing time now, he's done a really good job understanding, we're playing him in a couple of different spots, understanding what calls to make, checks, do all those things, he does those pretty good."
Forgotten Cowboys starter Damone Clark should be back on the field soon
Then there's Damone Clark, who has been firmly relegated to the bench and has even been inactive for multiple games despite 17 starts last year. He's been ousted from Mike Zimmer's defense. In five games since the bye week, he's seen zero defensive snaps in three and has played 21 total snaps, with most coming in a blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now, the door is open for Clark to step up behind Liufau and veteran Eric Kendricks. Even if it's not a starting role, he should get a chance of stepping onto the field. To his advantage, Clark played every role at linebacker last year for Dallas, something position coach Scott McCurley praised in the offseason. He's one player I'm watching out four in the last four games.
Clark is under contract through 2025 so he's naturally someone who could benefit from more film.
