The Dallas Cowboys are preparing for defensive lineup changes after injuries to linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and safety Malik Hooker, coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday.
Overshown, the starting middle linebacker who relays defensive calls from the coaching staff, suffered a hamstring strain during Sunday’s season-opening loss to the New York Giants. Schottenheimer said the injury could keep him out for one to two weeks.
Hooker is expected to have surgery for a fractured forearm. The safety will not be placed on injured reserve, a move that would require him to miss at least four games. Schottenheimer said the team hopes Hooker’s recovery will take about two weeks.
Caleb Downs is expected to continue working as a safety and slot defender in passing situations, while P.J. Locke is set to take the snaps that would have gone to Hooker in those packages. “We like him down near the line of scrimmage,” Schottenheimer said of Downs.
The Cowboys used rookie Jaishawn Barham alongside Dee Winters for most of the snaps after Overshown left Sunday’s game. Shemar James also played briefly. Schottenheimer said Winters has the most experience among the group, while Curtis Robinson and Justin Barron are among the other options available through the practice squad and team roster.
