Damone Clark gave DeMarvion Overshown some valuable advice ahead of returning from injury.
The Dallas Cowboys made several moves in free agency and the NFL draft to improve their linebacker room. However, the return of DeMarvion Overshown has to be the most exciting about the LB room in Dallas going into the 2023 season.
Overshown showed several flashes of what made him such a sought-after pick for the Cowboys during the preseason. Unfortunately the former third-round pick tore his ACL in the Cowboys' preseason finale and was put on the shelf. Rehabbing from a serious injury like an ACL comes with its challenges that Overshown is surely figuring out, but he has someone on the team that can relate to what he's going through.
Damone Clark had to undergo spinal fusion surgery before his rookie campaign in 2022. Fortunately, Clark was able to step on the field that October, and he started all 17 games and logged 109 tackles last year. Having been there and done that, Clark is the perfect person to advise Overshown on how he should approach what is basically is rookie year in 2024.
"I just told him to have faith," said Clark. "D-Mo comes in everyday — ready. He's itching to get out there. I was telling him it was the same thing for me. I looked at last year as my rookie year, just getting thrown in the fire my first year and having a full season under me last year."
Dallas drafted Marist Liufau in the third round, and he certainly has tons of potential to turn into a contributor. However, Overshown is expected to be a big part of new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s scheme, so he'll also need his rehab to go smoothly in order to get up to speed fast. Of course, with an ACL tear, there has to be a bit of caution so that a player isn't brought back too soon. It's a delicate process for sure.
It will be a year since Overshown tore his ACL once the season begins, which is the usual time frame for when a player is anywhere close to what he once was. Despite the uncertainty, Overshown isn't letting his injury be a reason to not perform well in the upcoming season.
"More hungry," he said. "All of the excitement that was built up in year one is still in there. It's ready to be unleashed on people. The glimpse that y'all got last year, you should expect 10 times more than that. This ACL injury will not be an excuse for anything going into the season at all. I'm gonna be ready to play and [fans] should expect that."
That's a lot to ask of Overshown, coming off such a major injury and having to learn his second scheme in two years. Having to mentally block out the thoughts of suffering a relapse doesn't make it any easier, but Clark knows about that part of the process as well.
"I told him God won't give you [any] more than you can handle or bear," Clark said. "Obviously, he's gonna think about his knee, but I tell him to try and not think about it, or it'll slow him down. It was a learning experience for me. Thinking about my neck slowed me down."
Dallas will need to continue to be smart with the rehab of Overshown as the expectations are lofty.
