Leighton Vander Esch to undergo neck procedure, should be cleared by training camp
Leighton Vander Esch had his 2019 season cut short by a neck injury that has led to some concerns about his playing career, but the Dallas Cowboys linebacker is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing a procedure.
Vander Esch is expected to undergo a minimally invasive surgical procedure in the near future to repair a nerve issue in his neck. According to Jane Slater of NFL Network, he should be ready to return in time for training camp next year.
Good news for #Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch: Following a series of tests, doctors determined that minimally invasive surgery will fix nerve issue in his neck that cut short his season, sources say. He’ll have surgery in the next few weeks & should be back long before camp.
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) December 23, 2019
That is obviously good news, as any injury involving the neck always has the potential to be serious. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said earlier in the season that the team had no reason to believe the issue was career-threatening, but the fact that he even brought that up was alarming at the time.
The Cowboys drafted Vander Esch with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 draft. He has quickly become one of the better linebackers in the NFL, as he recorded 140 total tackles in his rookie season and had 72 in just nine games before going down this season.
