Dallas got the result it needed on Monday night, beating Philadelphia 38–21 to move to 3–4. The veterans supplied the biggest moments, while the rookie class had a quieter evening. Jaishawn Barham’s workload dropped, Caleb Downs had tackling issues to clean up, and Camden Brown finally made his NFL debut.
But here is how each rookie fared this week, listed in draft order, and any undrafted players worth noting after that.
Caleb Downs
(56 defensive snaps | 5 tackles | 0 TFL | 0 sacks | 0 INT | 0 passes defended | 0 pressures | 0 QB hits)
Downs contributed three solo tackles, two assists, and was credited with one run stop. The concern was finishing where he was also charged with two missed tackles against the run. There was useful involvement, but those missed opportunities kept this from being a clean performance.
Malachi Lawrence
(30 defensive snaps | 1 tackle | 0 TFL | 0 sacks | 0 INT | 0 passes defended | 0 QB hits)
Lawrence contributed a run stop, although the box score recorded his tackle as an assist. His impact remained modest, with no sacks or quarterback hits. Dallas got its two sacks from Quinnen Williams and Donovan Ezeiruaku, meaning Lawrence still needs to turn his opportunities into more decisive plays.
Jaishawn Barham
(21 defensive snaps | 2 tackles | 0 TFL | 0 sacks | 0 INT | 0 passes defended | 0 pressures | 0 QB hits)
Barham played a smaller role with DeMarvion Overshown back, while Shemar James also received substantial playing time. Barham was also charged with one completion for 12 yards on two targets. He avoided a costly coverage total, but two tackles and no disruptive plays made this a quiet contribution.
LT Overton
(23 defensive snaps | 1 tackle | 0 TFL | 0 sacks | 0 INT | 0 passes defended | 1 pressure | 0 QB hits)
Overton supplied one pressure across 16 pass-rush snaps, giving Dallas a little disruption from its rotation. His only tackle was an assist, and he did not produce a stop behind the line. He was also charged with a critical penalty near the goal line. There was a contribution, but limited production overall.
Camden Brown
(4 ST snaps | 0 targets | 0 receptions | 0 receiving yards | 0 TD)
Brown finally made his regular-season debut after being inactive through the opening six games. His opportunity came entirely on special teams, so there was no receiving performance to judge. Getting onto the field was a first step, earning offensive work is the next challenge.
