Ranking the Cowboys' internal replacements for DeMarvion Overshown

3. Malik Jefferson

Malik Jefferson has stuck around with Dallas for the past few seasons, but he will have to catch on permanently if he hopes to step up in absence of his fellow Texas Longhorn. He had four tackles and one pass deflection against the Jaguars, but suffered a foot injury in the third quarter. He did not play in the second game against Seattle and it is unclear if he will play in the final preseason game against the Raiders.

Jefferson has been in the league since 2018 and is trying to make his sixth team. He was drafted in the third round by the Cincinnati Bengals, but was waived in 2019 during the final wave of roster cuts before the regular season.

After failing to catch on with the Browns, Chargers, Titans and Colts, Jefferson signed with Dallas in 2022. The move brought him closer to his home of Mesquite, TX.

Since arriving in Dallas, Jefferson has been though the ringer. He was signed to the practice squad after being waived last year during final cuts but was released twice in December and January. Now for the third time, Jefferson is trying to make the cut. He showed some flashes in game one, but the foot injury does not put the odds in his favor to make the team much less now compete with other linebackers for snaps in the rotation.

The former Longhorn picked up many accolades during his college career, but so far he has not lived up to being a third round pick years ago. He hasn't played in a regular season game since 2021 when he was with Indianapolis, but that may change this year.

With the injury to Overshown, Jefferson may have his in on making the team due to the numbers, but the coaches need to be convinced he can be a contributor. If Jefferson is able to play in the final preseason game against Las Vegas, it could determine whether he can step up at the weakside spot.

More from Our Site: