Cowboys' Mike McCarthy provides mixed bag of news with latest injury updates during OTAs

During Day 2 of the Dallas Cowboys' 2024 OTAs, head coach Mike McCarthy provided a few injury updates around key players that are working to get back on the field in time for training camp in late July.

McCarthy was asked about cornerback Trevon Diggs and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who both suffered season-ending ACL injuries in 2023.

"(Overshown and Diggs) look great," McCarthy told reporters on Wednesday. "Obviously, just staying on time with their process. Trevon is hitting the four-day-a-week, he’s working primarily still with (director of rehabilitation) Britt Brown and in the weight room with (strength and conditioning coach Harold Nash)."

McCarthy added assistant HC and defensive backs coach Al Harris also spends time with Diggs as he fights to get back on the field. The All-Pro cornerback has a slight advantage in his rehab in the sense that he's already familiar with life in the NFL.

The same cannot be said about Overshown, the second-year linebacker whose season was over before it began after a preseason injury. There's a lot of lost ground he'll need to make up for. Fortunately, his rehab appears to be going great.

"(Overshown) actually looks really good," McCarthy admitted. "We’re just respecting the timeline. If I was a doctor, which I’m not, I’d say he’s a little ahead of schedule.”

McCarthy didn't commit to saying both will be ready to go for training camp in Oxnard, California but said it would be a conversation for the team. 

TE Luke Schoonmaker won't practice in OTAs

However, not every injury update was positive as second-year tight end Luke Schoonmaker is poised to miss OTAs with a hamstring injury. He received shoulder surgery earlier in the offseason but will be sidelined for the former instead.

In his rookie year, Schoonmaker also missed significant time last year with a foot injury so this will be his second offseason with injury obstacles getting in the way of his development. 

Mazi Smith still in rehab

A big part of this Cowboys offseason will be all about Mazi Smith taking the next step in Year 2 and finding the ideal weight for him to play nose tackle. McCarthy declined to comment on their target goal for the 2023 first-round draft pick but did confirm he remains in rehab following an offseason shoulder surgery. 

"(Mazi) is still in the rehab group," McCarthy said. "He'll be working primarily with our rehab guys and when he's done there, he's in all the meetings and does everything else."