Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch suffers neck injury, questionable to return vs. 49ers
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Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch likely won’t finish Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Vander Esch sustained a neck injury in the second half against San Francisco after colliding with Micah Parsons. Teammates took a knee on the field as Vander Esch was evaluated, and he ultimately walked off the field under his own strength.
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The team announced that the linebacker was questionable to return in the fourth quarter.
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Vander Esch has a history of neck issues. Before Sunday, the latest occurrence took place during a Week 15 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. He underwent an MRI that revealed the injury as a shoulder stinger.
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He has dealt with neck issues since college. He was born with cervical spinal stenosis, a condition featuring a narrowed spinal column in the neck. The health issue leads to increased pinched nerves and possibly bulging or herniated disk.
In 2020, Vander Esch underwent neck surgery.
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He agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal to return to Dallas this offseason. He ranks second on the team with 20 total tackles and also returned a fumble for a touchdown during a Week 4 win over the New England Patriots.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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