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Mike McCarthy talks safety versatility with the Cowboys’ loss of DeMarvion Overshown

Cowboys’ safety Markquese Bell is getting some looks at linebacker.

FRISCO — The loss of rookie linebacker DeMarvion Overshown means someone else will move up into his role of playing safety/linebacker.

That’s where second-year safety Markquese Bell steps in. The day after Overshown tore his ACL in the second preseason game at Seattle, Bell said defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was adding linebacker to his duties.

Quinn wants some of the players in the safety/linebacker spots to play dual roles in the defense. Overshown fit that as a backup to veteran Jayron Kearse. And here comes Bell.

“DeMarvion, all those things factor, but it’s creating opportunities, coach Mike McCarthy said before Thursday’s practice. “It’s getting down to it, I’m not looking forward to Monday (final cuts). You got some decisions that are going to be made and I think what you get to, especially after that second game is have we given every player, particularly the young guys, an opportunity to make the team or show that they belong. I think like anything, it’s more the 68 (players which includes the practice squad) not just the 53, too. That’s why this last game is so, so important for these young players.”

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The Cowboys will keep at least four to five cornerbacks on the roster and the safety position is tricky when you’re looking at Donovan Wilson, Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker as players with secure roster spots at that position.

Bell, Israel Mukuamu, Juanyeh Thomas and maybe Tyler Coyle are competing for three safety spots.

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“Look at the guys who play the position,” McCarthy said. “JK is so versatile. I go back to when he was in Minnesota and I was across the way there, he was so impactful on special teams. You always talk about matchups, you sit here and talk about matchups, it’s usually how is the offense going to create favorable matchups for themselves. We feel that JK’s talents create matchups for us because he can take pieces away and his football IQ, instincts and awareness are just top-notch.”

Twitter: @calvinwatkins

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