The Cowboys’ Week 9 win over the Colts came with plenty of chaos, but one of the strangest moments had nothing to do with a tackle or a turnover. It came after a fumble recovery, when Dallas got hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a player who wasn’t even in uniform.
Dallas beat Indianapolis 27-23 in a game packed with flags - 23 penalties for more than 200 yards between the two teams. The Cowboys alone were penalized 14 times for 153 yards, and one of those calls stood out immediately.
Late in the fourth quarter, Jonathan Taylor coughed up the ball and Cowboys linebacker Shemar James recovered it. As the Dallas defense raced toward the end zone to celebrate, a player in sweats came sprinting off the sideline to join the party. That celebration turned into a penalty.
Referee Clay Martin made the explanation as clear as it was unusual.
“After the play, unsportsmanlike conduct by Dallas. We had a non-uniform player in blue sweats and a stocking cap come onto the field to celebrate. That’s a 15-yard penalty.”
The player in question appeared to be injured linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who was out this week with a back injury and hamstring injury. The injuries kept him off the field, but not out of the celebration.
The penalty pushed Dallas back 15 yards, and the Cowboys went three-and-out on the next possession. Indianapolis took advantage of the better field position and tied the game with a 59-yard field goal on its next drive. Still, the Cowboys held on for the win.
Overshown has appeared in only three games this season.
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