The Dallas Cowboys will play the 2024 NFL season with a new scheme under a familiar face. Mike Zimmer is a trusted name in the league when it comes to providing stifling defense, and fans hope he’ll be able to help their defense stop choking in the playoffs so their players can stop getting called out.
However, the new Dallas DC may be facing a bit of a problem come the preseason as his team won’t likely have one of the best players who can thrive under Zimmer’s system.
Leighton Vander Esche may sit out of Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season
Leighton Vander Esche was a mainstay in the Dallas Cowboys defense under Dan Quinn in 2021 and 2022. He was an elite linebacker who liked making his presence felt in the game.
While he missed much of last season due to injury, some fans expected that he’d be back in time for the team’s 2024 opener. However, reports reveal that the Boise State product might not make it in time.
Reid Hanson of Cowboys Wire wrote about his injury status, which included a very ominous outlook on his future as a Dallas Cowboy:
While everything is pure speculation at this point, Vander Esch has a history of serious back/neck injuries and suffers from cervical spinal stenosis. Jerry Jones indicated Vander Esch’s long-term future was in jeopardy when the Cowboys placed him on IR last season, and nothing said publicly since has indicated otherwise.
Vander Esch is a terrific defender when he’s on the field. However, his durability is a major obstacle in him playing a full season of football. He’s only played a complete NFL schedule once in his career, which points to glaring red flags when it comes to his future.
If Leighton Vander Esch won’t be playing for the majority of the season, he will be missing out playing under a coach who could fully use his capability to the fullest. Dallas Cowboys fans can only hope that he’ll make a full recovery and never get any serious injuries again.
