The Dallas Cowboys had high hopes for rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. heading into training camp, but those plans are officially on pause. After rehabbing a torn ACL that cut his final college season short, Revel suffered a setback.
According to Nick Harris of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram, Revel’s debut has been delayed a bit longer.
“After dealing with some discomfort in rehab sessions at training camp, Dallas Cowboys rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is no longer expected to return from his torn ACL in time for the season opener,” Harris wrote on July 31.
“When Revel was drafted, there was optimism that he would be able to return at some point while the team is in Southern California for training camp, but the team is erring on the side of caution with their third-round selection from April’s draft.”
Cowboys Currently Dealing With Depleted CBs Room
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With multiple injuries already plaguing Dallas’ secondary — Trevon Diggs is still on PUP, rookie Caelen Carson is sidelined, and depth is thin, with Josh Butler and Andrew Booth also currently dealing with a variety of ailments — Revel’s injury comes at a most inopportune time.
“As the team hits the halfway point of training camp in Oxnard, the starting cornerbacks are expected to be DaRon Bland, Kaiir Elam and either Israel Mukuamu or Kemon Hall when the Cowboys line up against the Philadelphia Eagles,” Harris added.
Revel Was a Standout in College
Revel made his name at East Carolina University as one of the more physical and versatile defensive backs in the American Athletic Conference. After transferring into ECU ahead of the 2022 season, he played in 24 games (15 starts) over two years, lining up both outside and in the slot.
In 2023, he finished with 54 total tackles (29 solo, four for loss), 1.0 sacks, 13 pass breakups and an interception, earning second-team All-AAC honors.
What really made the 6-foot-2 Revel stand out, though, was his length and physicality at the line of scrimmage. He excelled at interrupting the timing of receivers’ routes, held his own in contested catch situations and flashed on special teams with two blocked kicks during his 2023 campaign.
He opened the 2024 season with a bang, logging eight tackles, two pass breakups and a 50-yard pick-six in just three games. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in practice and has been recovering ever since.
When Will Dallas Cowboys Rookie Shavon Revel Return From Knee Injury?
After starting training camp on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, Revel’s latest setback pushes his likely availability to late September or early October, likely ruling him out for the first three or four games of the season. At least. According to his father, Shavon Revel Sr.,
“They’ll probably get him out there and work the next six to eight weeks,” his father, Shavon Revel Sr., told 105.3 The Fan on July 31 (h/t On3’s Griffin McVeigh). “Do what they need to do in order to get stronger, get acclimated to the system. Once he gets acclimated, probably seeing, I’m predicting, six to eight weeks.”
In the big picture, the injury is frustrating but not season-ending. When Revel returns to full speed, he could still become a fixture in the secondary. In the meantime, the Cowboys will continue to be patient with one of their more intriguing rookies.
