RK Just when the hype was peaking, a source close to the team says the rookie wideout might not be the “fast-track star” people expected… are the Cowboys already rethinking his role?

Atlanta Falcons v Dallas Cowboys – NFL Preseason 2025 | Sam Hodde/GettyImages

The Dallas Cowboys emerge from the bye week with a 3-5-1 record, but there is considerable juice heading into the second half of the season.

Acquiring a stud like Quinnen Williams before the trade deadline will do that, but the Cowboys are also expected to welcome back linebacker DeMarion Overshown and rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. for Monday’s game against the Raiders.

Overshown and Revel were expected to be big pieces this season, and to say the defense has missed their respective presence would be an understatement. There is more confidence surrounding Overshown because of the level he’s played at when healthy.

Revel is a different story, and Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan pumped the brakes on the expectations surrounding the 24-year-old before his NFL debut.

Cowboys fans should temper expectations for rookie Shavon Revel Jr.

Here’s what Belt said in response to Jerry Jones saying that he thinks Revel will “hit the ground running” on Monday night:

“I think this is ultimately a red-shirt year for Revel. I think he’ll play… I don’t think he’ll play a ton… (and) I don’t think we’re going to see him start.”

That is the last thing Cowboys fans want to hear, but it’s not all bad. Second-year pro Caelen Carson is back healthy and played well in his season debut against the Cardinals. It’s not like Dallas will have to start one of Kaiir Elam or Trikweze Bridges again.

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It’s smart that the Cowboys are exercising caution with Revel, who suffered a torn ACL last September during his final season at East Carolina. The hope was that Revel would be healthy for Week 1, but he suffered a setback in training camp.

He’s looked good in practice, but what sense would it make for Dallas to send him out there for 30 snaps? Most players need a ramp-up period after a major injury, and we’re talking about a rookie who hasn’t played football in over a year.

The most important thing is that Revel gets through the final eight games with a clean bill of health while flashing the talent that had him pegged as a first-round pick before the injury.

Brian Schottenheimer confirmed in his Thursday availability that Revel will play against the Raiders. That alone is worth being excited about, regardless of his snap share. a perfect world, the Cowboys would take the training wheels off and he’d barely come off the field. Maybe he reaches that point before the end of the season.

And if not, the wait will be worth it in 2026.