Cox is expected to see more defensive snaps this season with 2023 third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown (knee) now out for the season, Nick Eatman of the Cowboys' website reports.
Overshown suffered an ACL tear in Saturday's preseason game against the Seahawks, taking a big piece out of Dallas' linebacking corps. Leighton Vander Esch and Damone Clark are expected to be the Cowboys' primary starters in the middle of the defense, but Cox and Devin Harper will now pick up the slack from Overshown's loss. Cox, a fourth-round pick out of LSU in 2021, also suffered a torn ACL in his rookie season and saw only 35 defensive snaps last year; however, if he's fully recovered, his speed, athleticism and coverage skills could allow him to make an impact.
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Cowboys' Jabril Cox: Placed on IR
Rotowire
Cox (knee) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday following a season-ending ACL tear in Week 8, David Helman of the Cowboys' official site reports.
The rookie's move to IR was an expected one, officially wrapping up his season. On the year, he will finish with two tackles in seven contests while operating mostly as a special teams option.
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Cowboys' Jabril Cox: Strong showing in preseason
Rotowire
Cox has made a good impression on the Cowboys' coaching staff during training camp and in preseason action, Rob Phillips of DallasCowboys.com reports. "He had a really good play out in space (last Saturday against the Texans) and definitely you could see his range and his instincts, his awareness," coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday. "I think he's doing a nice job. He obviously has to do more on special teams because that's always where the young guys make their first impact."
A fourth-round pick in this year's draft, Cox is at best fifth on a stacked linebacker depth chart for Dallas behind Micah Parsons, Leighton Vander Esch, Keanu Neal and Jaylon Smith, but his coverage skills and compete level on special teams have drawn attention, and he's led the Cowboys in tackles in each of the last two preseason contests. Barring injuries at the position -- Smith, Vander Esch and Neal have all had trouble staying healthy in their careers -- Cox will likely spend his rookie season seeing minimal action on defense, but he could step into a starting role in 2022.
