FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys' embattled defense needs all the "hands on deck'' it can assemble. 

And here come ... well, a total of eight hands.

Fish’s Cowboys Top 10 Notebook from a Thursday here inside The Star ... 

ITEM 1 - ‘PLAY FREE’ As the Cowboys somehow try to gear up to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night after the tragic events of the past week, head coach Brian Schottenheimer offered us some huge updates on a returning duo.

First up was stud linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who the Cowboys desperately need back on the field. But will he be featured against the Raiders?

“Is it fair to say he is going to play the entire game? Maybe we’ll see but there is kind of a ramp-up pitch count that we have to see how he’s feeling,” Schottenheimer said.

That is expected given how long Agent Zero has been out for, and Schotty did add the Cowboys will be “smart” with how they approach DeMarvion’s return.

ITEM 2 - 'PLAY WELL' Also ready is ookie corner Shavon Revel Jr., who comes with big expectations, and he, too, like Overshown, is set to take the field on Monday night in Las Vegas.

“He’s going to play,” Schottenheimer said. “We want him to play, and I think he’ll play well.”

And again, like Overshown, it is fair to assume that the Cowboys won’t throw Revel Jr. into the fire in his first game; a snap count here is likely, too.

Oh, and here's the full practice report for the day ... with Overshown and Revel listed as "full'' ...

ITEM 3 - DAK ON THE PRACTICE What did Cowboys QB Dak Prescott think of today’s practice, the team’s first since the death of Marshawn Kneeland?

“It was great,’’ said Dak, who a few years ago lost a brother to suicide. “(Schottenheimer) said it earlier in the week, some guys are going to get on the field and it’s going to hurt. And some guys are going to get out there and it’s going to be the best medicine for them.“Having dealt with a loss, that is the best medicine for me. Getting back out there, handing the ball off and sprinting an extra 10 yards, and making sure I’m doing it hard.

“Marshawn went through my mind a few times. I just counted that with running harder after a play or trying to do something to better this team and to show that.’’

ITEM 4 - IMPRESSIVE DUO When the Cowboys made two moves at the trade deadline for linebacker Logan Wilson and All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, those “gets’’ were seen as fine upgrades for the defense.

On Thursday we got our first look at the two new guys in uniform.

Schottenheimer stated that he has been “blown away” by how Williams and Wilson had gone about their business since coming to the franchise.

Oh, and what’s perhaps even better, is that Schottenheimer stated that he feels both Williams and Wilson will be set to hit the field in Las Vegas.

So, we count four “new” players coming to Eberflus’ defense with Overshown, Revel Jr., Williams, and Wilson.

That’s a start.

ITEM 5 - BY HOOK OR BY ... The Cowboys just designated Malik Hooker for return to practice on Thursday. … what they believe is a key move for defense. Hooker’s 21-day practice window therefore starts now.

And they view him (maybe a bit hyperbolically) as a difference-making "Defensive Quarterback.''

We shall see.

ITEM 6 - HI, DIGGS! We got to see IR cornerback Trevon Diggs working to the side during practice, so that's something.

Color us cynical when it comes to some sort of heroic return as he is taking a looooooong concussion break. But "at work'' counts for something.

ITEM 7 - JEANTY SAID WHAT? Frisco (Lone Star High School) native and Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty was respectful of Dallas' talent and it's trade-deadline splash for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, but he didn't hide his optimism about the opportunity.

"They've got some great players, they just added another, Quinnen Williams, on the interior, so I'm sure that will level up the kit front," Jeanty said. "But it's a good all-around team, but there's definitely places where we can attack them and make great plays. There's definitely places we can attack them."

Is that meant to be a compliment?

ITEM 8 - BIG MIKE TO THE BIG APPLE? In New York, the search begins for the fired Brian Daboll's replacement, and a free agent name has been floated with recent ties to the division: Mike McCarthy, formally of the Cowboys.

There will be lots of other names thrown out there, too. But you know who would love the job? Who gets teary-eyed thinking about his good ol' days with the Giants?

That would be Bill Belichick.

I don't know what main squeeze Jordon Hudson thinks of the idea. But I know what Bill thinks.

ITEM 9 - PLAYOFF SPOT? At 3-5-1, the urgency is clear for the Cowboys with likely nine wins to even sniff a playoff spot, so winning on Monday night is a non-negotiable, especially with a brutal three-game stretch that follows with the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs up next.

It hasn’t been the best of seasons for Dallas, but things are far from over, but make no mistake, it’s gut-check time at The Star, and a win on Monday has to be acquired.

And that might be a little easier with a defensive quartet set to hit the field to give Eberflus’ embattled unit a big boost.

Will that be enough? Well, it’s gonna be the best they’ve got.

ITEM 10 - THE FINAL WORD “I’m grieving hard right now. It will be a long time before I’ll feel ready to talk at any length. It’s just too much.’’ - Catalina Mancera, the pregnant girlfriend of the late Marshawn Kneeland.