Coming off one of the best games of his career during his “second chance” with the Dallas Cowboys, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch departed Sunday’s contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars early in the first half. Nothing gold can stay, apparently.
Though the offense has carried the day in Vander Esch’s absence, fans still were left on the edge of their seats waiting for an update on the injury-prone tackle machine long past halftime.
Early word was LVE was being treated in the dreaded blue tent for a possible concussion, but shortly thereafter, the linebacker gained a designation of “neck injury,” and was labeled questionable to return.
The neck is not an unfamiliar trouble spot for Vander Esch, of course, and before too long, the Cowboys determined he was out for the game.
Leighton Vander Esch (neck) has been ruled out for the rest of the game
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 18, 2022
Cowboys Leighton Vander Esch Injury Update: OUT vs Jaguars
Vander Esch’s 2022 Cowboys season has been a mostly healthy one, but that makes it the outlier in his career rather than the norm.
The most worrisome part of Sunday’s issue is that the neck has been a recurring injury for the broad-shouldered linebacker throughout his career.
Vander Esch missed seven games of his sophomore campaign in 2019 with a neck issue, then had surgery following the season that knocked him out for four months of rehab.
Though the severity of Sunday’s issue is not yet known, clearly the trouble isn’t all behind him.
Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch downgraded to OUT with neck injury. Leighton has struggled with neck issues during his career. He'd stayed healthy and reliable until this week, including with 14 tackles + a TFL in last week's win.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 18, 2022
Once thought of as a key part of the Cowboys’ future, with first-round pedigree, the team instead declined Vander Esch’s fifth-year option prior to the 2021 season.
That made his return in 2022 feel especially surprising. Instead of showing long-term faith in their 2018 first-round pick, they instead negotiated a one-year, bounce back deal, which has gone swimmingly … until Week 15.
Ideally, the Cowboys can get the Week 14 version of Vander Esch back soon enough, who swarmed around the field racking up 14 tackles in the best example yet of his remaining talents.
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