The Dallas Cowboys defense has always been as essential to Texas football as a perfectly smoked rack of ribs is to a Fourth of July cookout. But even the juiciest brisket can dry out if left untended. Rumblings out of Frisco suggest the Cowboys’ defensive smoker might need a few extra logs to keep the fire burning this season. While Micah Parsons remains the sizzle, two key ingredients are simmering on the sidelines—and the Jones family isn’t shy about stirring the pot.

Stephen Jones dropped a truth bomb hotter than a jalapeño popper during a press conference Monday. The Cowboys EVP confirmed linebackers DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Trevon Diggs face uncertain timelines recovering from knee injuries. “We don’t know when we’ll get these players back,” Jones said. “They have significant injuries. There’s a good chance that they may not start for us when the season starts.” Losing Diggs’ ball-hawking prowess and Overshown’s sideline-to-sideline explosiveness could leave the Cowboys defense tasting more like day-old kolaches than championship chili.

DeMarvion Overshown isn’t just fighting to get back on the field—he’s battling for his favorite number. The linebacker, who wore “0” at Texas, has been itching to reclaim it in Dallas. But owner Jerry Jones initially shut him down, claiming the number belonged to mascot Rowdy. “[It’s] Rowdy’s number,” Jerry quipped in 2023. Now, Overshown’s cryptic social media teases—including a Holes movie reference—hint the jersey feud might finally end. “They haven’t talked timeline with me,” Overshown told the Dallas Morning News. “Being me, I’m going to try and get there right now.” Meanwhile…

Walking without crutches three months post-surgery is progress, but Overshown’s 2025 availability remains foggy. His 2024 breakout (90 tackles, 5 sacks) showcased why the Cowboys defense drafted him. However, tearing multiple ligaments in December left his knee resembling a tangled lasso. “My crutch isn’t in sports mode,” he joked to DallasCowboys.com in January. If he returns, Overshown’s swagger—and maybe that “0” jersey—could reignite a defense missing its spark. Meanwhile, Trevon Diggs’ rehab is less about timelines and more about trust.

After back-to-back knee injuries wiped out his 2023 and 2024 seasons, the All-Pro corner is grinding in Florida with Dr. Sharif Tabbah, who also works with CeeDee Lamb. “I think it’s way too early to talk about that [return dates],” Tabbah said. “We have to overcome lots of weakness and things like that from inactivity.” Videos show Diggs balancing on Bosu balls, rebuilding stability—and his trademark confidence. “The camera makes me lock in more,” Diggs told Tabbah. “I gotta make sure I look good.”

Having brother Stefon nearby helps. The former newly minted Patriots receiver, recovering from his own knee issue, trades motivation like a stock trader. They’re checking each other’s progress. For Trevon, reclaiming his 2021 form (11 INTs) isn’t just physical—it’s mental. As Arthur Golden once said, “Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn.” And while the Cowboys defense licks its wounds, Stephen Jones is hunting for offensive dynamite.

Stephen Jones craves WR fireworks for Cowboys

“We’re still open to looking at a really explosive number two that could upgrade us,” he said. Dallas needs a receiver who can stretch defenses like Silly String. Parris Campbell (134 yards since 2023) isn’t cutting it. With Brandin Cooks gone, options include drafting Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan—a 6’4” “smooth criminal” of separation, per Pro Football Focus—or trading for speed.

Youngsters like Jonathan Mingo and Jalen Tolbert have potential, but Jones wants proven pop. “I like our room and certainly like the players we currently have,” he said. Translation: Jerry’s checkbook might finally crack open.

The Cowboys defense hinges on two rehabbing stars and a dash of hope. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott’s arsenal needs a jolt. As they say, “Life’s a dance, not a sprint.” But in the NFL, you’d better sprint. Can Dallas fix its defense and offense fast enough to avoid another playoff letdown? “How ‘bout them Cowboys?”—still the million-dollar question.