Tag: Leighton Vander Esch

Cowboys-Chargers Injury Update: Vander Esch, Goodwin out, Bosa questionable and Ekeler ready

Things have calmed down a bit on Dallas’ side but an interesting IR note brings up some questions for the near future. Meanwhile the Bolts have their own concerns. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The final injury reports for the Week 6 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers have been released. After having a whopping 17 players included on the initial report, things are looking a lot more positive for the Cowboys. Dallas will be without three key players, but only one has been moved to injured reserve, which opens up some questions for the status of the other two.

Earlier in the week, Dallas moved TE Peyton Hendershot to IR with his ankle injury suffered in practice before the loss to the 49ers. However two players who sustained serious injuries in that loss, LB Leighton Vander Esch and ST CJ Goodwin, have been ruled out but remain on the 53-man roster. The takeaway here is that the club may be hopeful they can return in less than the four weeks mandatory absence dictated by going on injured reserve.

An alternative view is Dallas just simply doesn’t need the roster space and both players are going to be out so long that waiting to put them on IR is irrelevant.

Dallas also has given injury designations to two other players, but the remainder of the players on the list are cleared and ready to go. Meanwhile the Chargers are set to welcome back RB Austin Ekeler who has been out since Week 1. Their top defender is questionable though, as edge rusher Joey Bosa returned to practice on a limited basis on Saturday.

Los Angeles hasn’t ruled out anyone but have two players who are doubtful and three more (including Bosa) who are questionable. Here’s a look at the full list.

Why Leighton Vander Esch’s injury is extra difficult for Cowboys to overcome

When Leighton Vander Esch went down to injury, the Cowboys lost more than a star player, they lost a key leader of the defense says @ReidDHanson.

Injuries are a painful inevitability of the NFL. The game is physical and unrelenting, and no team escapes unscathed. How teams deal with said injuries often decides which teams find postseason fortune and which teams do not.

The Cowboys have already had their fair share of injuries. Their offensive line has been a game of musical chairs, and their secondary suffered the worst loss imaginable when Trevon Diggs tore his ACL three weeks into the season.

In Sunday’s “Debacle at the Bay,” the Cowboys suffered another enormous loss to their defense when Leighton Vander Esch fell to a neck injury. The injury will land the 26-year-old on IR and stole from an already shallow Dallas LB corps.

What’s even worse is Vander Esch isn’t just the Cowboys’ top LB, but he’s also the leader of the defense and Dan Quinn’s signal caller. Marked with the green dot, Vander Esch makes the calls on the field, putting defenders in position and adjusting as necessary.

Who’s the backup defensive play-caller?

In the preseason we saw the rookie DeMarvion Overshown wear the green dot. It was a testament to his individual football intelligence and a sign there may not be an obvious replacement in the veteran ranks. But like Vander Esch, Overshown found himself on IR.

Next man up says the green dot will go to veteran safety, Jayron Kearse. Kearse is a leader on the team and one of Quinn’s smartest players. He’s in the midst of an off-year, getting called for some unforced critical penalties and falling short in making up for it with highlight plays. Maybe a bigger leadership role is what he needs to right the course.

“It’ll be tough to replace Leighton,” Kearse said. “He’s been coaching those young guys up. They look up to Leighton and Leighton has been a tremendous leader for us, helping us on the back end, helping the guys on the front.”

Vander Esch and Kearse play nearly the same number of snaps each week so it shouldn’t upset the rotations or personnel groups to push the job onto Kearse’s plate. The only question is whether he’s up to the task.

Vander Esch was Quinn’s mouthpiece on the field. Will Kearse be able to pick up right where Vander Esch left off?

There are plenty of reasons to think he will. Entering the final year of his contract, it’s important for Kearse to have a good showing this season. The Cowboys already recommitted to Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker at safety.

As discussed prior to the season, Kearse will likely be playing elsewhere in 2023. He could do a lot of good for his market value by turning his season around and being a leader on a defense that desperately needs some direction.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Turpin, Vander Esch injuries ensure Cowboys loss to 49ers will continue to linger

Injuries to starters will ensure the impact of the debacle by the bay will linger for the Cowboys for quite some time. | From @ArmyChiefW3

The Cowboys took a thumping at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers and continued getting a grip on their unfortunate reality on Monday. Wideout Kavonte Turpin was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain after leaving the 42-10 loss early.

Turpin scored the Cowboys’ lone touchdown of the debacle, catching a 26-yard pass from Dak Prescott in stride and making it into the end zone untouched. He’s also the club’s primary kick returner and a Pro Bowl one at that, doubling the impact of his time away. The typical recovery time for a high ankle sprain is 4-6 weeks of recovery but McCarthy expressed optimism that Turpin could return much quicker.

 

McCarthy also noted that linebacker Leighton Vander Esch “may also be a candidate for injured reserve.” The sixth-year pro left the game in the third quarter after injuring his neck in a collision with fellow teammate Micah Parsons when he was pushed in the back by 49ers OL Trent Williams.

The injury may force the team to look for additional bodies. X-rays were negative, but the team is awaiting MRI results to understand the true severity of the situation. Vander Esch has repeatedly dealt with neck injuries and was even a point of emphasis during his pre-draft process. He missed seven games back in 2019 with a Cervical Neck Stinger.

As it currently stands, Damone Clark is the only healthy linebacker remaining on the active roster. The Cincinnati Bengals claimed former Dallas linebacker Devin Harper in late September while Malik Jefferson occupies a practice squad spot with only one call-up remaining. Any stint on injured reserve would automatically keep Vander Esch out for at least four weeks.

Dallas also lost special teams ace CJ Goodwin to a torn pectoral muscle. If he opts for surgery that will knock him out for the rest of 2023.

Leighton Vander Esch is again the linchpin of Cowboys’ defense

Leighton Vander Esch has had an up and down career with the Cowboys but things have come full circle and he’s again the linchpin of the D. | From @ReidDHanson

The more things change, the more they seem to stay the same. For as many obstacles, narratives, and criticisms Leighton Vander Esch has experienced as a Cowboy over the years, everything appears to have come full circle for the 27-year-old Boise State product.

Drafted in the first round of the 2018 draft (No. 19), Vander Esch was a criticized pick from the start. The off-ball linebacker was criticized for his position, his school, his limited experience and his injury history.

The criticism from within the Cowboys fanbase was short-lived that first year. Vander Esch put together a stellar rookie season in 2018, earning Pro Bowl honors and leading the Cowboys defense to a 10-6 record and division crown.

Unfortunately, his success would also be short-lived. Over the next two seasons, Vander Esch would only play a total of 19 regular season games. The injury concerns from his pre-draft scouting reports proved to be foretelling and Vander Esch’s career looked to be in serious jeopardy.

An injury-prone LB is nothing new to the Cowboys. They’d recently built a defense around another oft-injured LB, Sean Lee. The difference was Lee played brilliantly whenever he suited up. Vander Esch looked sapped in his limited appearances in 2019.

The lack of reps and conditioning took their toll on Vander Esch’s strength and endurance. He was a shadow of his formerly dominant self and no longer appeared to be the cornerstone player he once was.

Leighton Vander Esch is a redemption story and inspiration for Cowboys LBs group

Like many of the Cowboys linebackers, Leighton Vander Esch has had to face adversity in his professional career, making him a perfect leader, says @ReidDHanson.

Leighton Vander Esch’s NFL career has had more ups and downs than a rollercoaster. The Cowboys’ first-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, his career started off with a bang. The 6-foot-4, 256-pound LB from Boise State was a tackling machine. With an abnormally long reach and vice grips for hands, he racked up 102 solo tackles at an impressively low 6.7% missed tackle rate (MTkl%).

His sophomore season saw regression. Injuries began to take their toll and over the next two campaigns Vander Esch missed a combined 13 regular season games. When he did play, he wasn’t his usual dominant self. His MTkl% ballooned to 15.3% and 16.7%, respectively. But just when the Cowboys rookie Pro Bowler started to look like a bust, Vander Esch bounced back.

His 2021 season saw a resurgence in his game, which continued to grow in 2022 when he posted the best MTkl percentage of his career (3.2%).

He again became an integral part of the Cowboys defense and was a priority free agency signing for the team that drafted him. Now Vander Esch heads into the 2023 season as one of the most important pieces of the defense, on and off the field.

In a linebacker room loaded with youth, the 27-year-old is the senior member and undisputed leader. Given his struggles in 2019 and 2020, he’s a redemption story as well — capable of inspiring other players who, for whatever reason, have fallen from grace and strive to change the narrative of their careers.

His importance in Dallas is unquestionable. The Cowboys enter the 2023 season with more questions than answers at the position. Vander Esch isn’t just the oldest of the bunch, but he’s the only truly proven commodity.

Damone Clark, the expected starter alongside him, has had his own obstacle to overcome. The LB out of LSU endured spinal fusion surgery prior to his rookie year. Many questioned his ability to even play in the NFL, let alone become an impact LB. But like Vander Esch, Clark proved doubters wrong.

Jabril Cox, another former LSU LB, has had his own injury situations. The third-year player has only been able to contribute 45 career snaps on defense for the Cowboys and is facing his own “bust” label in 2023.

Like the other two, Cox is now healthy and ready to put all the lows behind him. As one of the best coverage prospects in the 2020 draft, Cox has the ability to fulfill his potential and become the next redemption story.

One could argue the identity of the Cowboys entire linebacker room is redemption. The top players have either overcome significant obstacles or are in the process of overcoming obstacles. Even reserve LB Devin Harper landed on injured reserve in his only NFL season.

Vander Esch’s ability to overcome injuries should be inspiring for the entire position group. It’s a unit with adversity sewn into its DNA.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

NFC East teams lacking at linebacker, but here’s how they rank

Not a lot of flash inside the NFC East for the linebacker position, but if one of these groups break out, it could be a gamechanger for the division.

The NFC East may contain the NFC’s two best teams and once again could send three teams to the playoff field of seven. The Philadelphia Eagles made the Super Bowl, the Dallas Cowboys had back-to-back 12-win seasons, and the Giants won a playoff game in head coach Brian Daboll’s first season. And if the Washington Commanders can figure out their QB position, they too could be a handful to reckon with.

These teams are formidable at nearly every position, but collectively the linebacker spot is the weakest position in the division. There isn’t a single All-Pro caliber player on any team going into 2023, and the recent draft picks haven’t lived up to high expectations so far in their young careers. Here are the linebacker unit rankings in the NFC East.

How former Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown fits with the Dallas Cowboys

Overshown could play much more than on special teams.

Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys on Friday night in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft. He could greatly factor into the team’s long-term plans. Continue reading “How former Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown fits with the Dallas Cowboys”

Cowboys bring back Vander Esch the Wolf Hunter on 2-year deal

The Cowboys have brought back the veteran after he had his best season in years, looking to stabilize the position group. | From @CDBurnett7

The Cowboys make it a priority to keep their talent in Dallas before going after outside additions and they’ve stayed true to that in 2023. After inking safety Donovan Wilson on a three-year deal in the morning, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is back on a two-year, $11 million contract.

Vander Esch was the club’s 2018 first-round pick and made the Pro Bowl that season, but struggled with injuries the next several campaigns.

Vander Esch looked like he was on his way out of Dallas after the 2021 season but he was written off too quickly as he shined in Dan Quinn’s offense during the 2022 campaign. Totaling 90 tackles and commanding the middle of the defense, Vander Esch returned to form even while missing three games with injury, where his absence was palpable. With their starting linebacker extended, the dream of signing Bobby Wagner likely disappears according to Jane Slater of NFL Network.

A day into free agency, the Cowboys have succeeded in keeping their top talent on the roster while also trading for cornerback Stephon Gilmore is a complete shock in the right way. Dallas hasn’t seemed interested in re-signing linebacker Anthony Barr, leaving sophomore Damone Clark and third-year man Jabril Cox as the top players at the position behind Vander Esch.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3][lawrence-newsletter][lawrence-newsletter]

Letting Vander Esch, Wilson test FA market wise move for Cowboys

The Cowboys appear to be letting two prominent defenders test the market before making them a sizable offer. Is it the wise choice? | From @ReidDHanson

As things appear now, it seems the Cowboys would like to retain free agents Donovan Wilson and Leighton Vander Esch. Wilson, a safety, was one of their biggest playmakers of the 2022 season. Vander Esch, their top linebacker, was a reliable presence in the middle, posting his best season since his rookie campaign.

Both players were instrumental in Dallas’ success in 2022 and both would be sorely missed if they left in free agency this off-season. But just because the Cowboys want to have them back, doesn’t mean they will come back. Details matter and when details mean money, they matter quite a bit.

One of the worst things a franchise can do in free agency is over-valuing their own players. This somewhat natural instinct can be a costly mistake, impacting the spending power and overall long-term health of the ball club.

When the Cowboys look at Vander Esch, they likely see a guy who was their top pick in 2018. A former Pro Bowler who played a significant role on defense and a guy who’s coming off the second-best season of his career.

Outside teams may see him differently. They may see a player with long-term health risks. They could see a player who had more average-to-poor than good seasons. They may see a player who’s only interesting at the right price.

Wilson is in a similar situation. The fifth-year safety was a splash-play machine in the box last season. He was a big hitter, emotional tone-setter and difference maker in both phases of the game. Dallas likely sees him as one of the most important cogs in Dan Quinn’s machine. They could see him as someone who embodies the attitude of the defense and someone a franchise can build around.

Again, outside teams may see him differently. They may see a player who’s had trouble staying on the field throughout his career. They could see a guy who was nothing more than No. 3 in Dallas’ safety hierarchy. They may see a great complementary player but not a reliable cornerstone to build around.

Who has it right in this scenario, the Cowboys or the rest of the league?

A player is worth whatever the market pays him, but smart teams don’t offer significantly more than the rest of the market.

Testing the market is risky. It allows another team to swoop in and take a player Dallas would like to keep; it only takes one team willing to go the extra mile to turn this strategy on its head. But it also protects the Cowboys from overspending. It allows them to gauge the demand and find a suitable figure for both player and team.

Dallas employed this strategy with safety Jayron Kearse last off-season. Kearse was their leading tackler, Quinn’s back-seven chess piece and a team leader. But they tested him against the market and came to an agreement.

It appears to be the same plan for Vander Esch and Wilson.

They seem to want to keep both players but the price has to be right for the team. Both players seem to want to come back to Dallas but the price has to be right to the players. It’s perfectly reasonable for these players to want to maximize their value and test the market. It may even benefit the Cowboys when all is said and done.

It will be tough if Dallas loses either Vander Esch or Wilson in free agency, but they’re probably doing the smart thing by testing the market and avoiding the temptation of proactively overpaying.

[lawrence-related id=711221]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3][lawrence-newsletter]

Giants likely to prioritize ILB in free agency

The New York Giants are expected to prioritize inside linebacker in free agency and could target someone like T.J. Edwards.

The NFL’s legal tampering window opens on Monday at 12:00 p.m. ET with the new league year beginning on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

That means things are about to heat up for the New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen, who will have much more money to work with this year.

But the Giants also have several roster holes they need to fill ahead of the 2023 NFL draft and while many expect them to focus on wide receiver, that may not be the case. Rather, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan believes they will prioritize inside linebacker — a position we at Giants Wire have harped on for the past two months.

“The position I heard most (about) the Giants shopping near the top was inside linebacker, middle linebacker,” Raanon said on Breaking Big Blue.

Although Schoen and the Giants are likely to prioritize inside linebacker and have more money to work with, Raanan doesn’t expect them to go after someone like Bobby Wagner. Rather, they will aim for younger, slightly less expensive players who will be around for years to come.

“(Tremaine Edmunds) is going to be a little too rich for their blood. He’s going to get close to $15 million per year,” Raanan said. “The other name that I’ve heard most prominently was T.J. Edwards from the Eagles. 26 years old. If that price doesn’t get crazy, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Giants very heavily in on Edwards.

“A younger player they can build around. But him in the middle of that defense for the next three, four years.”

Edwards wasn’t the only inside linebacker Raanan heard the Giants were potentially interested in.

“Some other names I heard that I think they’ll keep an eye on is Germaine Pratt from the Bengals, a really good player,” Raanan said. “Cole Holcomb from Washington is another name in that range. Leighton Vander Esch. Drue Tranquill if they have to go down a little bit on level if the price of the other guys gets too high.”

Raanan believes the Giants will focus on the $6 million to $8 million range for inside linebackers but may go up to $10 million if the market value doesn’t explode and they have a shot at landing a higher-tier player.

[lawrence-related id=707189,707203,707201]

[mm-video type=video id=01gv5zgnmxp5fb3hfrnb playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gv5zgnmxp5fb3hfrnb/01gv5zgnmxp5fb3hfrnb-a53ed63e01e883c36fcd7c996d53cdff.jpg]