Leighton Vander Esch

Leighton Vander Esch announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday.

Fantasy Impact

Vander Esch is retiring from the NFL after a six-year career with the Cowboys. The veteran linebacker suffered a season ending neck injury in 2023 which factored into his decision. Vander Esch ends his career with 469 total tackles, three interceptions, and 3.5 sacks in 71 career games.

Leighton Vander Esch (neck) has been shut down for the remainder of the season, owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday.

Fantasy Impact

Vander Esch appeared in five games this season before landing on injured reserve. Now, his 2023 season is over as he mulls the possibility of a second neck surgery. Undergoing another procedure could put the remainder of Vander Esch's career in jeopardy. Such an outcome would be quite disappointing for the Cowboys and their former first-round pick, who has appeared in 71 career games and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie back in 2018.

Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch could end up on injured reserve as a result of the neck injury he suffered Sunday against San Francisco.

Fantasy Impact

This would be another big blow to the Dallas’ defense that recently lost star corner Trevon Diggs for the season. The Cowboys will likely wait for the veteran linebacker to undergo more testing to establish a timeline for his recovery.

Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch has agreed to re-sign with the Dallas Cowboys on a two-year, $11 million deal.

Fantasy Impact

The Cowboys drafted the Boise State product with the 19th pick of the 2018 NFL Draft and will seemingly retain him for the sixth and seventh seasons of his NFL career. The 27-year-old dealt with neck injuries in 2019 and 2020 but has appeared in 31 of a possible 34 games over the last two seasons. Vander Esch recorded 54 solo tackles and one sack in the 2022 season along with a forced fumble across 14 appearances.

OLB Leighton Vander Esch has agreed to a new, one-year deal to return to the Dallas Cowboys.

Fantasy Impact

Vander Esch has been an important piece for a much-improved Cowboy's defense, and they will retain him for at least another year. The veteran OLB has been important in allowing the team to utilize Micah Parsons properly, and he will look to establish his value and earn a nice contract for next off-season.