The Dallas Cowboys made the decision Friday to release linebacker Leighton Vander Esch.
Dallas is the only team the 28-year-old has played for in the NFL, with the Cowboys selecting him 19th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
However, a neck injury dating back to his college days limited him from reaching his true potential.
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Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch leaves the game with an injury during the game against the San Francisco 49ers on October 8, 2023 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Vander Esch was selected to the Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro during his rookie season, but underwent spinal fusion surgery in his second year and played in just nine games.
He missed six games in 2020 due to collarbone and neck injuries, but played a full season the following year. He missed four games in 2022 with a needle in his neck, then injured his neck again in an awkward collision with teammate Micah Parsons, causing him to miss his final 12 games last season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones admitted he doesn’t know if Vander Esch’s injury was career-ending, but there seems to be some doubt about that.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch stands on the field before a game against the New England Patriots at AT&T Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
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“I’ll leave it at that, but I don’t know,” he said at the time. “There’s a lot of factors involved. But he really has to see how this continues to heal and decide if he wants to continue saying he’s going to continue to be exposed to injury from that point on.”
Vander Esch has worn a neck guard throughout his career.
Due in part to neck issues, Dallas declined the fifth-year option on Vander Esch’s rookie contract, but brought him back in 2022 on a one-year deal. He still had one year left on his two-year contract.
The Cowboys signed his replacement, linebacker Eric Kendricks, on Friday. Kendricks originally chose the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, but he has since changed his mind. The 32-year-old will be reunited with new Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who was Kendricks’ head coach in Minnesota for his first seven NFL seasons.
San Francisco 49ers pass Dallas Cowboys linebackers Leighton Vander Esch and Micah Parsons during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 8, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. Running back Jordan Mason. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dallas also released receiver Michael Gallup, a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, on Friday. Gallup had his only 1,000-yard season in 2019, when he scored six touchdowns. However, with the addition of wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks in recent years, he only allowed six touchdowns in his final two seasons combined.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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