The Dallas Cowboys activated rookie cornerback Shavon Revel from the Non-Football Injury list this week. It appears that the team is preparing for his NFL debut on Monday night against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed how the team plans to deploy the 6-foot-2 corner, emphasizing taking a brilliant approach so that the youngster can contribute immediately despite injury concerns.
Brian Schottenheimer is taking a cautious approach with Shavon Revel's NFL debut.
The third-round pick signed a four-year, $6.5 million rookie deal but missed the first 10 weeks of his professional career due to a torn ACL. He had been fighting setbacks due to the injury since his final college season at East Carolina.
With the Cowboys having one of the worst defenses this season, Schottenheimer made it clear the coaching staff will be smart about exposing Revel to the secondary in his first professional outing.
The HC drew parallels to how Dallas managed linebacker DeMarvion Overshown's return from injury, but indicated they'll be even more careful with the rookie cornerback.
"He's going to play, we want him to play, and I think he'll play well," Schottenheimer said via Tommy Yarrish.
The head coach acknowledged the challenge facing Revel, noting that the cornerback position is particularly challenging for rookies, especially those who are young and lack NFL experience.
Despite those concerns, Schottenheimer praised the rookie's work ethic, saying, “I just love the way that he shows up every day with a smile on his face. He works.”
Schottenheimer also said the workouts Revel did with rehab director Britt Brown were often more challenging than regular practices. For the uninitiated, it is the Cowboys' standard practice to push players hard in rehab to expedite recovery and ensure they’re truly ready to play.
The skipper finished by expressing faith in the rookie's mentality, saying he doesn't believe Monday night's bright lights will overwhelm Revel. He added, “I think he's looking forward to it, but we'll be smart with how we use him.”
The 24-year-old corner is expected to see rotational snaps as Dallas tries to fix a secondary that ranks 22nd per Statmuse and has allowed a total of 277 points to its opponents.
With Trevon Diggs on injured reserve and the defense struggling all season, Revel's arrival couldn't come at a better time for a squad desperately needing depth both in cornerback and the entire defense.
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