The Cowboys’ linebacker room is moving in two directions at once.
Dee Winters has been added to the injured list and is expected to miss time after suffering an Achilles strain against the Packers, while DeMarvion Overshown is trending toward a return for Monday Night Football against the Eagles. For a Dallas defense already dealing with injuries, the timing leaves the team trying to absorb one loss while waiting on reinforcements for a divisional game.
Winters’ injury came in the Packers game, and the Cowboys have already indicated it will cost him time going forward. Stephen Jones also said Winters is likely to miss multiple games, though it is still unknown whether he will be moved to injured reserve.
That uncertainty matters because Dallas is already working through a thin margin on defense. The Cowboys are 2-4, and their next game comes against Philadelphia, where availability in the middle of the defense can quickly shape how the unit lines up and communicates.
Overshown gives Dallas a possible lift, but not a full solution. He has missed five games with a hamstring injury that was initially expected to be shorter, and the Cowboys now expect him back for Monday night. Even so, he will not return as the middle linebacker, which means Dallas still has to sort out the MIKE spot separately.
That role has been handled by younger players, including Jaishawn Barham, since Overshown went down. So while Overshown’s return would add speed and experience back into the lineup, it does not erase the need to replace Winters or settle the middle of the defense.
The broader injury picture is not limited to the linebacker group, either. Cobie Durant is also trending toward a possible return against the Eagles after missing the last four games, giving Dallas at least a chance to get more bodies back before a primetime divisional matchup.
For the Cowboys, the week is less about one injury update than the balance between subtraction and recovery. Winters is out, Overshown is close, Durant is in the mix, and Philadelphia is next.