Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said during a news conference on Thursday that linebacker Leighton Vander Esch will land on injured reserve with a neck injury. McCarthy said: “The update would be he [Vander Esch] is not available this week, and he is going to be designated on the injury reserve list. Then, we will watch the process.” It is the latest in a series of injuries that Vander Esch has dealt with throughout his career; he fractured his collarbone in the 2019 season, an injury that required surgery which ended his year.

Vander Esch suffered the injury during the Cowboys’ Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and earlier this week McCarthy said the move to IR was a possibility. McCarthy said that the team hopes Vander Esch will be able to return from IR before the season’s end. Vander Esch started five games this season with 30 total tackles and one fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown.

McCarthy confirmed that Dallas has signed 27-year-old, free agent linebacker Rashaan Evans to the roster. Evans spent his first four season with the Titans, and he signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons after having his fifth-year option declined. Evans posted career-highs in tackles (159) and fumbles recovered (two) in 2022 with the Falcons.

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