Injured Cowboys defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins expected back for playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys have several injured players working their way back to full strength as the team closes out the regular season on Sunday. Executive Vice President Stephen Jones shared the latest timeline on injured defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins on 105.3 The Fan on Monday. Hankins suffered a pectoral strain in the game versus the Houston Texans, after which he went on injured reserve.

“Yeah, we’re feeling really good about him for the playoffs,” Jones said. “We’ll be welcoming back three really good football players: Leighton Vander Esch, certainly Hankins, and then if we get (Tyler) Biadasz back, you know, that will be a big plus for our group out there. We all know what Hankins does for that run game.”

In late October, Dallas traded a 2023 sixth-round pick to bring in Hankins to shore up their defensive line for a playoff push.

Since joining the Cowboys, Hankins has averaged over 25 snaps on defense per game and has become a talented run-stopper for the defense. He has 10 tackles and a tackle for loss in his five games played.

Hankins entered the league with the New York Giants as a second-round draft pick in 2013. In the last 10 seasons with the Giants, Colts and Raiders, he racked up 366 tackles, 36 tackles for a loss and 14.5 sacks.

Cowboys hopeful for Vander Esch, Biadasz return in round one

Former first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch met with the media on Monday as he continues rehabbing from a shoulder stinger he suffered versus the Jaguars in Week 15.

Due to the injury, Vander Esch is about to miss his third game but he shared ahead of Sunday’s matchup versus Washington that he intends to be on the field for the first playoff game.

“I’m doing good,” Vander Esch said, via Jon Machota. “Everything is coming back. Just taking my time, working out, staying in shape, getting ready for this playoff run.”

As for center Tyler Biadasz, an MRI on Friday confirmed his high-ankle sprain. He began rehabbing the injury over the weekend and he could bounce back in time for the first round of the playoffs as well.

Dallas heads to Washington on Sunday for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff versus the Commanders. At the same time, the Eagles will host the Giants. If Philadelphia wins, they’ll win the NFC East. However, if they lose, Dallas will take the top spot in the division, and potentially the No. 1 overall seed if the 49ers lose.