Michael Gehlken reports Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch is not expected to return this season from the neck injury that currently has him on injured reserve, despite some early optimism.
Gehlken notes Vander Esch has not yet determined if he needs another surgical procedure on his neck, which would be the second of his career and could potentially end it.
He adds Cowboys CB C.J. Goodwin, a key special teams performer, will have surgery on his torn pectoral muscle and be out for the rest of the season as well after initially hoping to rehab the injury to a point where he could play again.
Vander Esch, 27, was selected by the Cowboys with the 19th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Boise State. He played out the final year of a four-year, $11.847 million dollar rookie contract that included a $6.696 million dollar signing bonus.
Dallas declined to pick up Vander Esch’s option for the 2022 season. He later agreed to a one-year deal with the Cowboys and re-signed to another one-year, $11 million contract in 2023.
In 2023, Vander Esch appeared in five games for the Cowboys and recorded 30 total tackles, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.
Goodwin, 33, originally signed on with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent out of California of Pennsylvania back in 2014. He bounced on and off their practice squad before signing on with the Falcons’ practice squad.
Goodwin had brief stints with the Bengals, Giants, and 49ers before signing on with the Bengals during the preseason and later signed to their practice squad. Dallas signed Goodwin off of Cincinnati’s practice squad to their active roster in October of 2018. He’s been with the team since.
In 2023, Goodwin appeared in five games for the Cowboys and recorded four total tackles.
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