James recorded 91 tackles (40 solo) with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 14 regular-season games in 2025.
A fifth-round pick out of Florida in the 2025 Draft, James was inactive for the first three games of the season as former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus leaned heavily veteran linebacker Kenneth Murray, but once James got into the lineup he made an impact, producing double-digit tackles on three separate occasions. However, James struggled in coverage, and he lost his starting spot again briefly once DeMarvion Overshown returned from knee surgery in Week 11. James drew back in when Overshown suffered a Week 16 concussion, and the rookie wrapped up the season with 13 tackles in Week 18 against the Giants. Depending on the Cowboys' offseason moves, James could be in line to start in Week 1 next season under new DC Christian Parker, who brings a LB-friendly system with him from Philadelphia.
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Cowboys' Shemar James: Seven stops in win
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James recorded seven total tackles (three solo) in Monday night's 33-16 win over the Raiders.
James finished second on the team in stops behind cornerback DaRon Bland (10), notching at least seven takedowns for the fourth time this year. On the season, the rookie linebacker has now registered 56 total tackles (25 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding a forced fumble over seven games.
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Cowboys' Shemar James: Solidifying starting role
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James recorded a sack among his nine tackles (four solo) in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Commanders.
The rookie linebacker tied Kenneth Murray for the team lead in tackles, and James also added his first career NFL sack. Jack Sanborn was back in action after a two-game absence due to a concussion but was limited to special-teams duties, while James was off the field for only one of 67 defensive snaps. Over three games since moving into the starting lineup, James has erupted for 35 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.
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Cowboys' Shemar James: Leading tackler in loss
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James totaled 11 tackles (six solo) in Dallas' loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
James had a strong outing despite the loss, as he led the team in tackles. The rookie fifth-round pick has gotten off to a hot start since making his debut in the Week 4 tie versus the Packers, as he's recorded 31 tackles (15 solo) in just three games played.
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Cowboys' Shemar James: Reaches double-digit tackles again
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James recorded a team-high 11 tackles (six solo) in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Panthers.
The rookie linebacker has broken out for 26 tackles over the last two games, taking advantage of the absence of Jack Sanborn (concussion). Even when Sanborn is cleared to return, it's hard to imagine a struggling Cowboys defense returning James to the bench when he's been one of the few impact players on the unit the last two weeks.
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Cowboys' Shemar James: Makes impact in NFL debut
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James recorded five tackles (one solo) on 26 defensive snaps in Sunday's 40-40 overtime tie with the Packers.
A fifth-round pick in 2025, James was inactive for the first three games of the season, but the Florida product was busy late in Sunday's game after Kenneth Murray left in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury. Murray was able to return to the field, but James may have made a good enough impression in his NFL debut to retain a role in the linebacker rotation for a Week 5 tilt against the Jets.
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Cowboys' Shemar James: Picks off pass in preseason finale
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James recorded five tackles (two solo) and an interception in Friday's preseason win over the Falcons.
The 2025 fifth-round pick has been coming on as training camp progressed, and he was in the right place at the right time Friday to pick off an Easton Stick pass over the middle early in the fourth quarter. James won't begin his career as a starter, but he appears to have done enough to secure a roster spot and should see snaps on special teams while working in as a depth option at linebacker behind Marist Liufau, Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn.
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Cowboys' Shemar James: Getting first-team reps
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James has been spotting in with the first-team defense in practice, Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com reports.
The 2025 fifth-round pick isn't likely to win a starting role ahead of Week 1, but there are snaps available at linebacker due to DeMarvion Overshown (knee) being set to miss the beginning of the season. James is best suited to play against the run at this stage of his career, and his primary competition for early-down reps could come from veteran Jack Sanborn, who signed a one-year deal with Dallas in March.
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Cowboys' Shemar James: Linebacker heads to Dallas
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The Cowboys selected James in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 152nd overall.
The Cowboys traded up to take James, who started 25 games over three seasons at Florida and tallied 166 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He'll turn 21 years old this summer. James (6-foot-1, 222 pounds) is a dependable run defender with impressive athleticism, and while he still needs development in pass coverage, he could develop into a starter eventually. The Cowboys currently have Jack Sanborn -- who has 19 NFL starts through three seasons -- atop the depth chart at middle linebacker. James can push for the starting gig, but he'll likely have to wait his turn while contributing on special teams.
