As the Dallas Cowboys look to finish the season strong heading into the playoffs, they also hope to be healthy in time for January.
The team has been without key defensive playmakers Leighton Vander Esch and Johnathan Hankins as they both recover from injuries, but Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones sounded optimistic that they will be back in time for the playoffs.
“The two guys we don’t have right now that I think will be back at a minimum for the playoffs are certainly Leighton as well as Hankins,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan’s K&C Masterpiece on Monday. “We certainly miss both of those guys in the running [defense] and certainly Leighton is a leader on that defense. Ultimately, we’ll get them back. Probably won’t be this week but they’re certainly looming out there and feel like we’ll get them.”
Vander Esch left the Cowboys’ Week 15 injury in what was believed to be a neck injury, raising concerns he would be out for the season, but an MRI revealed that he sustained a shoulder stinger, calming fears of a serious injury.
Hankins, whom the Cowboys acquired from the Raiders via a trade in October, was ruled out for the season with a pectoral strain after a Week 14 win over the Texans.
But with the Cowboys coming off a crucial win over the NFC East-leading Eagles and a playoff spot already clinched, getting two key playmakers back on defense would be a huge boost for the team come January.
“Other than the guys [we know] we are not getting back we feel good about the health of this football team,” Jones added. “We just keep getting better and I think we’ll keep getting healthier as we make our move toward the playoffs.”
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