DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Per a report from Jane Slater of NFL Network, the Dallas Cowboys received 'good news' on Leighton Vander Esch's neck injury on Monday Afternoon, with the second-year linebacker expected to return well before training camp.
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
Vander Esch, per Slater, is will undergo surgery to repair the nerve issue in his neck over the next few weeks, with the procedure expected to be minimally invasive.
Vander Esch has been out of the lineup since suffering the injury against the Lions on November 17th, and the Cowboys suffered as a result, losing four of their last five without the star linebacker.
Though he was thought by many to be struggling this season, Vander Esch still finished the year with 72 total tackles (43 solo and 29 assisted) in just nine games, and was a key cog of the defense.
Veteran Sean Lee would replace Vander Esch following the injury, finishing 2019 as arguably the Cowboys most consistent defender in the front seven.
Dallas will take the field for their final regular-season game of the season at home at AT&T Stadium.
