Dallas Cowboys linebacker, and Riggins native, Leighton Vander Esch’s season is over because of a neck injury, and his career is also in question.
The 27-year-old Vander Esch was eligible to come off injured reserve this week after getting hurt Oct. 8th against the 49ers, but he still has lingering symptoms from that game. He was injured on a play in which he was pushed from behind into the right leg of teammate Micah Parsons, jamming his neck.
Vander Esch has 35 tackles, one tackle for loss, two quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown in five games.
He has a history of neck issues, coming into the league in 2018 with concerns before the Cowboys took him in the first round out of Boise State. He led the Cowboys in tackles as a rookie and was named to the Pro Bowl but missed seven of the final nine games in 2019 because of a neck injury.
