‘Just Trust Your Instincts’: DeMarvion Overshown’s Interception Seals Cowboys’ Win In Return From Injury

PHILADELPHIA — DeMarvion Overshown intercepted Tanner McKee at the Dallas 30 with 7:55 left Monday night in his first game since Week 1, and the Dallas Cowboys held on for a 38-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

Overshown missed five games with a hamstring injury. He tied linebacker Shemar James for the team lead with 6 tackles and added a tackle for loss and 2 passes defensed. He played 43 snaps, 65% of the defensive plays.

The interception came with Dallas ahead 31-21. It was the first interception McKee had thrown this season, and it was the Cowboys’ first takeaway of the night. Overshown said he had been watching film all day.

DeMarvion Overshown Breaks Down The Interception Of Tanner McKee

McKee’s pass was intended for tight end Dallas Goedert, who pushed Overshown out of bounds at the Dallas 34 after a 4-yard return. Overshown and safety Malik Hooker changed their technique after seeing the concept one play earlier, according to Overshown.

“Really the play before that, we kind of ran the same kind of route concept, and me and Hook communicated on the next play that we was gonna kind of play a different technique to it. I have been watching film all day,” Overshown said. “Coach [Schottenheimer] had us prepping those out routes all day in certain position when you see the tight end do this and when he do that. And then knowing the situation, like end of the game, they trying to get the ball out quick and get out of bounds, save as much clock as they want.”

“And then with McKee, we knew he was gonna be quick game. They didn’t want him back there holding the ball. So it’s just about trusting my instincts,” Overshown continued. “That’s what CP sent me before the game. He’s like, ‘Bro, you a dog. I’m happy to have you back. You don’t have to do nothing spectacular. Just trust your instincts.’ And that’s exactly what I did on that play call.”

CP is Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the pick put Dallas into a four-minute situation.

“The catch was awesome. Put us into a four-minute situation, and it was awesome seeing him back out there, along with Cobie Durant and guys like that,” Schottenheimer said.

Cornerback Cobie Durant also returned from a hamstring injury and played 24 defensive snaps. Overshown went the length of the field after the return to celebrate with the defense, and he wanted more than 4 yards.

“Hey, it felt good, but the next time I’m going to go to the [end] zone,” Overshown explained.

The defense bowled in the end zone. The group came up with it in the huddle, Overshown said, after scrapping another idea when the clock ran low.

“Look, I actually, when we huddled up, we came up with it. Like, we was going to do something else, but then I felt like the clock was running out. So I was like, ‘You know what, let’s just bowl.’ I like bowling. I’m a bowler,” Overshown said. “So I feel like bowling [pins] the first day back, that was a good one. But we’re gonna practice, so there’s gonna be some more takeaways to come. So we’re gonna practice on our celebration.”

Cornerback DaRon Bland called the interception an energy boost.

“Oh, that was big. Energy boost, and having somebody on the defense having another pick. So you’re always excited when that happens,” Bland said.

Bland has been with Overshown since Overshown was a rookie in 2023.

“Oh, definitely missed a lot. The type of guy he is, he brings a lot of energy the way he plays,” Bland explained.

Overshown and Durant were both back Monday, and Dallas hopes safety P.J. Locke joins them this week. Schottenheimer started with Overshown on Tuesday when the conversation turned to the defense getting healthy, and he pointed past the interception to a tipped pass and Overshown’s range in space.

“I’ll speak to Demo first because he certainly deserves it. You’ve hit all the plays that he was involved in. I thought the pick was huge,” Schottenheimer said Tuesday. “The momentum for the sudden change and then our ability to move the ball. After that, I think the tipped pass, the ability to run and tackle in space is unique.”

“I also will talk about Cobie Durant. Cobie did some really good things after being out for a while. Hopefully we get P.J. Locke back this week,” Schottenheimer continued. “I mean, the health of your football team is of the utmost importance, and getting these guys to practice together and all that I think is critical. But we’re getting close to getting back to full speed, and that’ll be a great thing for us.”

Dallas has not decided whether to open the practice window for safety Jalen Thompson, who went on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on Sept. 30, Schottenheimer said. A few players came out of Monday bumped and bruised, with nothing major, and the Cowboys will not have a full read until Thursday because Wednesday’s practice is a walkthrough.

Overshown On Faith, Loss, And Five Games On The Sideline

Overshown lost two of his most supportive people while he was dealing with the hamstring, he said. He described the stretch as a test.

“Hey, it feels like God’s doing exactly what he told me he was going to do. It’s hard when you go through stuff and you kind of sit back and wonder, like, man, why me? Why me? But it’s a couple promises God gives us in the Bible. One of them is he’s never going to leave us in a time of difficulties,” Overshown said. “And that was the time I was having with the hamstring. I was dealing with a lot. Not just the hamstring, but off the field. I lost two of my most supportive people in my life. So it was more than just dealing with the hamstring, getting over that. It was more so of life, life really showing up.”

“And, like, look, I’m putting you through a test. This is exactly what God was telling you. Like, look, this is another battle, and you’re a soldier,” Overshown continued. “And I feel like I’m a soldier that he continues to put through adversity because that’s my calling. My calling is to help people get through adversity, help people get through the tough times. And then when I get my time to shine again, [God’s grace] that show[s] out there on the field. That’s not me. I wish I can take all the credit, but, man, that ain’t nothing but [God’s] work.”

Sitting on the sideline was not fun for Overshown, given what the group went through in the offseason and training camp.

“Hey, it felt great. Anytime you’re on the W side of the win-loss column, it always feels good. But the best feeling about it is just being out here with my brothers,” Overshown said. “We go through so much in the offseason of grinding with each other, training camp, grinding with each other, the blood, the sweat, the tears. So sitting on the sideline is not fun for me because I know what we went through. I know the goals that we got, that we want to achieve.”

“So being back out there on the field is a blessing, and I know it’s going to help us accomplish the goals we want to as a team,” Overshown continued.

Dallas entered the night ranked 30th in the NFL in defense, according to The Associated Press. Overshown said the team expected him to be out there, and so did he.

“Oh, it’s definitely tough. And I say, sure, it’s tough when they[’re] looking good, too, because I want to be a part of that celebration as well. But definitely knowing what I bring to the table, knowing how we worked offseason and the team expecting me to be in there. I’m expecting myself to be in there and make plays that I made today and here in the future,” Overshown said. “It was definitely tough not getting the outcomes that we wanted to. Now I feel like now that I’m back, I’m able to play a bigger role, and I can help with that. I’m not saying I’m just going to change everything, but I’m looking to make a huge impact.”

Overshown did not know how much he would play coming in. He prayed for an interception, he said.

“Just being out there is a testimony itself. But when you make a play like that, when you finish a whole game, all you can do is just thank God. Because I know it’s just stuff that I pray for. I pray for an interception,” Overshown said. “I wanted [it] to be a pick-six, but God gave me the interception. That’s good enough in the box score. So it’s just like just being thankful for everything. Like I said, I was prepared this week. Didn’t know how much I was going to play, but I felt like I played the whole game. So I feel great. I feel good.”

Outside linebacker Rashan Gary watched Overshown coach up teammates from the side while he was hurt.

“Man, I just want to talk about [his] road to recovery. Just him being hurt from Week 1, just him coming in early morning, leaving late, just grinding, seeing his passion every day that we’re on the practice field,” Gary said. “He’s on the side coaching guys up, just being very attentive, coaching the guys up and just having a guy with that type of play style, that type of swagger, that type of juice, the defense needed.”

“Cuz as you see, man, he’s able to get tip balls, make tackles, fly around the field, and be a big playmaker for us,” Gary continued. “But having Zero back, man, Agent Zero on that field was great, and it was great seeing him have some energy and come back to the defense.”

Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams pointed to the speed Overshown brings to the linebacker group.

“Oh, it’s unbelievable, man. The energy he brings, the speed that he’s bringing, the play style he’s bringing, that whole [linebacker] unit is amazing,” Williams said. “I’m excited about this unit, excited about learning, excited about growing and fixing our mistakes and getting better because we got the guys in that unit, man. We got the coaching staff in that unit to be the best we can possibly be, and the sky’s the limit.”

James lines up next to Overshown and wore the green dot Monday.

“Most definitely, yeah. I mean, when you [have] this guy, I mean, it makes your job so much easier. I mean, you just tell him to play and he go do it,” James said. “So, I mean, just having Demo, having Q, having KC on the defensive line, I mean, it just makes my job easier. I just tell those guys what to do, and I just do my job and watch them thrive.”

The win moved Dallas to 3-4. Overshown said the Cowboys are in the NFC East race and need to stack wins.

“Everything that we want. Right now it’s just about stacking them. That’s what we’ve been talking about is how can we figure out how to stack them. As much as we three and four, our division, we in it,” Overshown said. “So I’m excited about getting back to work and attacking this next week just like we did this weekend.”

Dallas hosts the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon CT on FOX.