Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch to miss Week 18 versus Commanders

Dallas Cowboys 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.”

Although the team’s star linebacker could have made a push to return for Week 18, in his case, the team wants to give him extra time to get back to 100% for the playoffs.

“It’s about the playoffs,” Vander Esch said. “They’re just giving me a little bit extra time to get rest.”

In the linebacker’s last full game, he came up with 14 stops, including two tackles for loss. So far on the season, he has 90 tackles with one sack and four tackles for loss. He also forced a fumble versus the Bears in October.

The former Boise State standout has dealt with neck injuries in the past with the Cowboys. He had a procedure in January of 2020 to relieve a nerve issue.

Vander Esch expected back for first playoff game

The Cowboys selected Vander Esch in the first round with the 19th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. During the offseason, they signed him to a new one-year deal worth $2 million.

As a rookie in 2018, Vander Esch burst onto the scene. In 2018, he totaled 140 tackles with two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, and two interceptions along with seven passes defended. He was named a second-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler as a rookie. The next two years were plagued by injuries for Vander Esch, as he played in 19 games over the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

During the 2019 season, he totaled 72 tackles with one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit. In 2020, Vander Esch had 60 tackles with one tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. This past season, he played in all 17 regular season games with the Cowboys, totaling 77 tackles, four tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, and an interception. He also had 13 tackles in the Cowboys playoff game this past year.