Dallas Cowboys Linebacker Leighton Vander-Esch will miss the remainder of the 2023 season with a neck injury. There are concerns over whether or not the former first-round draft pick will see the football field again.
Vander Esch’s neck injuries have been a concern from the beginning. A badly broken collarbone in 2020 sent him to IR for the first time. His availability has been in question ever since. This history of injuries will leave the Cowboys’ front office with tough decisions. Here is how the Dallas Cowboys can rebound from losing their Pro Bowl chess piece.
Leighton Vander-Esch’s Injury: Who Will Be The Next Man Up For the Dallas Cowboys?
LB/S Marquise Bell
According to recent news from 105.3 The Fan, there are major concerns about Vander Esch’s injury. He has a history of neck injuries dating back to his Boise State time, and it’s coming back to haunt him. The Vander Esch injury leaves a gaping hole in the secondary that the Cowboys must fill immediately.
Marquise Bell, it’s your turn. Bell has had an up-and-down season in 2023. He showed flashes in week one against New York, and then seemingly disappeared. The Cowboys vs Chargers game proved the suspicions; The Dallas Cowboys Front Office has a crush on Marquise Bell. His hard-hitting hybrid position style play has shown he is ready to take the reigns. Bell doesn’t have nearly the experience of Vander Esch, but the Cowboys don’t have all day. It’s in Dallas’ best interest to let Bell handle things from here and see increased touches.
LB Rashaan Evans
If you dive into the film on Dallas’ 49-17 trampling of the New York Giants, you’ll notice a trend. Evans wasn’t the primary defender in the game, but he took defensive snaps. Evans was signed and entered into the lineup within 30 days. His playstyle is similar to that of Cowboys LB Leighton Vander-Esch. He, Bell, and Damone Clark will all rotate in and out.
Evans has played for Tennessee, Atlanta, and Philadelphia before his time with Dallas. A former first-round Alabama Crimson Tide NFL Draft selection looks good on paper. His highlight reel isn’t extensive, but he showed flashed against New York. Due to the injury of Leighton Vander-Esch, the Cowboys will likely increase snaps to Rashaan Evans. 28 snaps was just the beginning.
Vander-Esch’s Future
Unfortunately, the NFL is a cut-throat business. Injuries and unreliability are causes for termination. It is far too early to determine the severity of Vander-Esch’s injury. He will spend the remainder of 2023 on IR. It’s not the first time, either.
At what point does the Cowboys’ front office consider their options, seriously? It appears Dallas has two:
Option one: Leighton Vander Esch remains a Dallas Cowboy through the 2024 season. The Cowboys will likely be picking around 21-27 in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. There are notable linebacker prospects in the draft, and the Dallas Cowboys should look at potential sucessors. Vander-Esch could see limited time and serve as a rotational mentor-style linebacker.
Option two: Leighton Vander Esch remains a Dallas Cowboy on IR. Doctors take a good look at him and a consensus is reached; This keeps happening. The NFL is taking every stumble seriously in 2023, and a neck injury isn’t just a limp. Vander-Esch has one more year on his contract. There’s no predicting how Dallas will handle his contract, but stepping away from the game is a real possibility. Vander-Esch must have conversations with several doctors and specialists before he is fully cleared for football.
There’s no telling just yet what Dallas will do regarding Vander-Esch. Marquise Bell and Rashaan Evans will see an increase in his absence regardless of his future. Dallas remains hopeful that the wolf hunter will return to the team after a swift recovery.
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