FRISCO, Texas — Stephen Jones said Friday that the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff’s decision to give rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham the green dot for Sunday shows its confidence in him.
Dallas ruled out DeMarvion Overshown with a hamstring injury on Friday, and Barham will call the defense against the Washington Commanders in the home opener. His debut came in a 28-20 loss to the New York Giants, where he got a welcome to the NFL and his adrenaline was running hot, Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan’s “G-Bag Nation.”
“Well, obviously his performance throughout camp and the man he’s been, the player he’s been, day in and day out,” Jones said. “I mean, obviously you can get a welcome to the NFL and his adrenaline was running hot. And I’m sure he wants to play better. I know every player on that defensive side of the ball wants to play better.”
“But at the same time, I think it goes to the confidence and the expectation our staff have and a guy like Barham that he will step up and he’ll put that behind him,” Jones continued. “And certainly give him the green dot as a rookie certainly shows their confidence.”
Jaishawn Barham Takes Over For DeMarvion Overshown
Overshown wore the green dot against New York and played 51 defensive snaps. Barham played 34 and finished with 6 tackles, 1 of them for a loss. Dee Winters played 40.
Dallas took Barham in the third round at No. 92 overall in April, using a pick acquired from the San Francisco 49ers. He played at Maryland in 2022 and 2023 and at Michigan in 2024 and 2025. In August, he wore the green dot in his preseason debut at Arizona.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed the move Friday at The Star.
“He’ll be the green dot for us, and again, he’s got great command of what we’re doing,” Schottenheimer said.
Earlier in the week, Schottenheimer said he had zero doubts Barham would play well against Washington. Safety Malik Hooker is also out Sunday with a forearm injury.
Christian Parker On Jaishawn Barham After The Opener
Video of a sideline exchange between Barham and Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker during the opener circulated this week. Barham was frustrated in his first NFL game, Parker said.
“I think he was frustrated,” Parker said. “It’s his first NFL game and things aren’t going to be perfect. This isn’t a fairy tale at all. And I think that Jaishawn cares as much as anybody in that locker room about us winning.”
“I don’t think anybody in our building has any doubt of what he’s going to do coming real soon,” Parker continued. “So we don’t have any reservations about his mentality. We welcome that passion, have to channel it better, and that’s something that young players have to go through. It’s a natural progression. We have a lot of confidence in Jaishawn.”
Barham declined to speak with reporters Friday. Kickoff Sunday at AT&T Stadium is 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
