Mike McCarthy weighs in on Cowboys' new addition Rashaan Evans

The Dallas Cowboys were in desperate need of a boost to their defensive depth this week following the injury to linebacker Leighton Vander Esch that landed the starter on IR. To rectify the depth issue, the team signed former first-round draft pick Rashaan Evans to the practice squad. They chose to sign him over multiple other linebacker candidates, which head coach Mike McCarthy praised VP of player personnel Will McClay for on Thursday.

“I think Will McClay does an excellent job and obviously there’s some feedback from individuals in his past,” McCarthy said of signing Evans. “He had a really good workout. Of the candidates we brought in, we clearly felt he was the best fit.”

Evans had 159 tackles in 17 starts for the Falcons last season before joining the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad this offseason. For Dallas, he’ll wear the No. 57 jersey.

He played four seasons with the Titans before parting ways when the team opted not to exercise his fifth-year option.

In his career, the former Alabama Crimson Tide star has started 55 games. Evans has totaled 317 tackles with 15 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits and three sacks. He also posted eight passes defended, with two interceptions, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He also scored a touchdown on one of the recovered fumbles.

Like Vander Esch, Evans was a first-round draft pick in 2018. The injured Cowboys linebacker and the former Titan were separated by only three draft spots.

Cowboys move Leighton Vander Esch to IR

The Dallas Cowboys announced Leighton Vander Esch‘s move to Injured Reserve on Thursday during Mike McCarthy’s press conference. The veteran suffered a neck injury in Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers and an MRI revealed he would need time off to recover.

Through the first five games of the season, Vander Esch has tallied 30 tackles, including 17 solo stops. He has also recovered one fumble. The linebacker left Sunday’s game with 10 tackles, including one for loss. Niners offensive lineman Trent Williams drove the linebacker into Cowboys teammate Micah Parsons. It was a move called a “slingshot” that Dallas reportedly addressed with the NFL prior to the game.

Vander Esch, a former first-round selection out of Boise State, is in his sixth season with Dallas. He missed three games for the Cowboys last season because of neck trouble. He also did not play in seven contests during the 2019 campaign because of a similar issue.

With the linebacker headed to the injured reserve list, it will cost him significant time. He’ll have to sit out until at least Week 10, with the league requiring all IR players to miss four weeks. In that span, the Cowboys play the Chargers, Rams, Eagles and Giants.