'Let Leighton Vander Esch Speak To That': What's Dallas Cowboys Plan for LB Future?
For reasons sadly out of his control, Leighton Vander Esch's future with the Dallas Cowboys remains a question mark.
The 2018 first-round pick out of Boise State began his career with tremendous promise, racking up 140 total tackles to earn second-team All-Pro honors as a rookie.
Unfortunately, the Cowboys linebacker has been plagued with injuries since then, and injuries in the same area at that. Vander Esch missed time in 2019 with a nerve issue in his neck in 2019, then suffered a broken collarbone in 2020 and more neck injuries in 2022 and 2023, with the latest one potentially being career-threatening.
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The Cowboys have supported Vander Esch through his numerous injuries, although the 28-year-old's playing future remains clouded in mystery. Cowboys COO Stephen Jones, son of owner Jerry Jones, didn't have much of an update when speaking to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday.
“Leighton will speak to that,” Jones said. “Certainly an injury issue with him that, you know, he’s getting his hands around. Let him speak to that.”
Vander Esch is coming off a season in which he played a career-low five games, as he exited the Cowboys' 42-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 8 and would not return the rest of the way.
Vander Esch, who has been a valued team leader and a class act during his time here, is entering the final season of a two-year deal he signed last offseason. He will carry a cap hit of just under $4.4 million and the Cowboys could save roughly $2.15 million if they were to cut him. We expect some clarity on this issue in the near future.
