The ascension of Leighton Vander Esch hit a speed bump in 2019 when the second-year linebacker missed seven games of the regular season (including the final six) with a neck issue. Cowboys Nation got a real scare when coach Jason Garrett made a cryptic comment about the long-term (and possibly even career-threatening) nature of the injury.
Now, just over a week after the Boise State phenom underwent surgery, team execs reports that Vander Esch is on track to fully participate in the offseason program that begins with voluntary workouts in April.
Signs look good for Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck) recovery.
Will McClay: "We’re expecting Leighton to be back and ready to go when we start camp. We’re rolling with that process."
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) January 22, 2020
Speaking this week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones concurred with that prognosis for the 2018 first-round draft pick.
“I feel good about it, really good about him making a full recovery and being ready to participate in everything,” Jones told reporters.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the 22-year-old suffered a pinched nerve in Week 7’s win over Philadelphia that “aggravated his cervical spinal stenosis, a condition he has had since birth involving the narrowing of the spinal canal.” The paper notes it’s “the same injury that forced the Cowboys’ Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin to retire in 2000.”
That condition is the reason Vander Esch wears his trademark neck collar as part of his uniform. The 2018 Pro Bowler will likely continue to do so with special equipment issued by the Cowboys training staff.
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