Cowboys Injury News: LB Leighton Vander Esch is OUT for Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - Two weeks ago, in the postgame locker room, Leighton Vander Esch expressed to me some anger for having been pulled from that game (a win over the Eagles) due to what he said was "only a (neck) stinger.'' But here we are, time having passed, and the Dallas Cowboys are ruling Vander Esch out for tonight's game at the New York Giants.

Vander Esch is the most notable name on the inactive list tonight, which reads: Cameron Fleming, Adam Redmond, Trysten Hill, Cedrick Wilson Devin Smith, Joe Jackson and Vander Esch, who sustained a neck injury in the Oct. 20 win over Philadelphia, and while it still might be an "only'' situation, the problem hasn't gone away.

Vander Esch had been listed as questionable, and Dallas has had ample time to make plans without him. Look for Sean Lee to start at weakside linebacker, alongside middle linebacker starter Jaylon Smith, with the highly-thought-of Joe Thomas getting more playing time.

The timing is never right for such an injury, but this might work out well for Lee, who against the Eagles recorded 11 tackles while playing a season-high 46 snaps.

Lee still has star quality at the position, which figures to come in handy tonight against a Giants team that features Saquon Barkley, the running back who is also a gifted receiver. He would've been a handful for Vander Esch, too; now the Cowboys will need to create other solutions.