Leighton Vander Esch was the subject of some bad Cowboys news this week
This type of Cowboys news has already surfaced; it has been reported that Leighton Vander Esch will miss the entire season due to a neck injury. Trevon Diggs’ injury suffered during the Cowboys’ Week 2 victory over the Jets was, in fact, the first significant Cowboys news of the season.
Although Dallas’ performance against the Giants in Week 10 was dominant, winning 49-17, the team’s performance this week was negatively impacted by the news that Vander Esch, who hasn’t played since re-injuring his neck against the 49ers in Week 5, will miss the whole season.
Although Dallas’ performance against the Giants in Week 10 was dominant, winning 49-17, the team’s performance this week was negatively impacted by the news that Vander Esch, who hasn’t played since re-injuring his neck against the 49ers in Week 5, will miss the whole season.
At the Cowboys practice facility on Wednesday, there were numerous notes for LVE. Among those who will be affected both on and off the field is standout pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence.
However, we are still with him, and he is still present in spirit with us. He continues to spend every day up here improving himself and supporting some of our younger linebackers. He is really appreciated, and we hope that he will keep improving.
Leighton Vander Esch’s Cowboys News Aims Higher Than Football
For the Cowboys, one of the main themes of the day was gratitude for Vander Esch. Security Jayron Kearse is fully aware that Leighton Vander Esch’s injury has been the subject of attention in Cowboys news cycles before. In 2019, following his selection to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, Vander Esch first sustained a neck injury.
At that time, he underwent surgery. In 2020, he underwent surgery for a fractured collarbone. According to Kearse, LVE’s harm extends beyond football.
Safety Jayron Kearse remarked, “We’re fathers, brothers, and sons.” When it comes to participating in this sport, this is a little fraction of our lives. Although we have been playing for a very long time, you will likely have many more years without playing football given the number of years you have spent doing so. When it comes down to it, there are a lot of various factors to consider.
Damone Clark Has Special LVE Connection
According to Lawrence, people’s response to the Cowboys’ announcement about Vander Esch has been to just plod on. Lawrence stated, “It’s a next man up mentality.”
Damone Clark has emerged as the Cowboys’ next guy, since his snap totals have increased following his LVE injury.
This season, the second-year linebacker has played 69% of the team’s snaps, an increase from 59% the previous campaign. He participated in 99%, 81%, and 92% of the defensive snaps for the Cowboys in Weeks 6-8; but, the blowout last week allowed him to have some respite (59%).
Clark’s response to the Cowboys news was like that of his teammates.
However, Clark is more personally affected by Leighton Vander Esch’s injury because he had surgery on a bulging disc in his neck the previous year.
“I’m going to stand by him, as that was a guy who helped me every step of the way while I recovered from my neck injury,” Clark remarked. “Don’t worry about me,” he said. I’m going to be honest. That only illustrates the kind of warrior he is. He will support us.
Clark has a deep connection with Vander Esch, even off the field.
He declared, “I talk to Leighton all the time.” “I admire Leighton greatly. That person always goes about things correctly. That is far more significant to me than the football player. That’s my brother, even if I never play another down with Leighton.”
Veteran sports writer Sean Deveney works for Heavy.com, covering the NBA and NFL. With over 20 years of NBA coverage experience, including 17 years as the lead NBA correspondent for Sporting News, he has been writing for Heavy since 2019. A writer of seven nonfiction books, Deveney is the author of “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.”Additional details regarding Sean Deveney.
