Advertisement

Cowboys News: No LB shopping, Tolbert stock rising, former Dallas CB cut by AFC team

Todd Brock
·5 min read
4

The Cowboys and their fanbase were rocked on Tuesday by the startling news regarding Leighton Vander Esch’s neck injury. We’ve got the latest on why he may have played his final snap of football, what factors may be playing into his decision on whether to undergo surgery, and what the club is thinking about their linebacker corps for the rest of the season.

Elsewhere, young players Jalen Tolbert and Mazi Smith are on the rise, Trevon Digs is on the prowl (again) to lure his brother away from Buffalo, and a former second-round draft pick project is on the streets after just half a season with his new AFC team. We’ve also got more analysis of the Cowboys’ bludgeoning of Big Blue, a look at which Cowboys alums were named to a prestigious all-star squad, and a sneak peek at tributes planned for an NFL icon during this year’s Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas. Here’s your News and Notes.

An offer for Cowboys fans

For the best local Austin news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to the Austin American-Statesman.

Cowboys' Jerry Jones confirms Vander Esch done for season; admits future is in doubt :: Cowboys Wire

Link

The veteran linebacker’s latest neck injury will cost him the rest of 2023, and maybe his football future. “There are a lot of factors involved,” Jones said. “But he just really needs to see how this continues to heal and then go from that point as to whether or not he would want to continue to expose himself to injury.”

Updates: Cowboys not looking to add to LB corps :: The Mothership

Link

The Cowboys feel comfortable with their current stable of linebackers and have no plans to look to the waiver wire or free agency to bring in reinforcements upon the loss of Vander Esch. “If I had to pick an area of strength, I would pick this area, because of how we play the linebackers,” Jones said. “[Leighton] can’t be replaced, but we’ve made the kinds of adjustments you’ll see in the future.”

This is why Dallas Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch may have no choice but to retire :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Link

Star-Telegram columnist Mac Engel lives with spinal stenosis, the same condition Vander Esch has. He describes the constant pain and discomfort and the never-ending uncertainty about how the body will respond, all things the linebacker will live with for the rest of his life…. no matter what he does next. Don’t be surprised if he has another surgery and tries to come back again. But don’t be surprised if he decides that’s just too steep a price to keep playing and retires.

Report: Cowboys' Goodwin to miss rest of '23, Vander Esch could follow :: Cowboys Wire

Link

Goodwin had hoped to strengthen his Week 5 pectoral injury to the point that surgery could be delayed until after the season, but an unspecified setback will put him on injured reserve for the remainder of 2023. “I knew it was a long shot anyway,” Goodwin said. “They said they never had somebody come back from it, but they gave me the opportunity to try, and I tried.”

NFL second-half predictions for all 32 teams: Keep an eye on Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray :: The Athletic

Link

Jalen Tolbert will solidify himself as the Cowboys’ No. 3 wide receiver by the end of the season. That’s the prediction here, based on his usage and production as compared with Michael Gallup’s over the past three weeks.

Cowboys' Dan Quinn: Mazi Smith's arrow 'going up' after best game yet vs Giants :: Cowboys Wire

Link

The first-round rookie hasn’t been an immediate hit with fans, but the slow opening to his career may have gotten a jump-start with his first-quarter tackle for loss on Giants running back Saquon Barkley. “It’d be nice if you just add water and you [get] instant kick-ass,” Quinn quipped. “But it takes time and coaching to get there, and he is certainly doing that.”

More Cowboys-Giants analysis :: Cowboys Wire

Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs wants brother, Stefon, out of Buffalo after debacle vs. Broncos :: Dallas Morning News

Link

The Cowboys cornerback wants to see his wide receiver brother get out of the mess that has become the Buffalo offense. After the Bills lost to the lowly Broncos in primetime, Trevon posted, “Man 14 Gotta get up outta there”. (The team then fired their offensive coordinator on Tuesday.) Trevon had lobbied for Stefon to come to Dallas during an offseason contract dispute.

Cowboys' former cornerback Kelvin Joseph gets cut by Dolphins :: A to Z Sports

Link

The former second-round draft pick was traded out of Dallas in late August. Now the Dolphins have released him outright after just four game appearances.

Cowboys-Commanders game to feature John Madden game coin, jersey patches :: NFL Media

Senior Bowl announces 75th Anniversary Team :: Reese's Senior Bowl

Link

Cowboys alums Terrell Owens, Larry Allen, Zack Martin, and DeMarcus Ware will be honored in a halftime ceremony at the collegiate all-star game to be played on Feb. 3. The 75th Anniversary Team selections were made through a process that included a public online fan vote, a poll of all 32 NFL general managers, and consideration from the Senior Bowl’s selection committee.

Cowboys players serve Thanksgiving meals :: Dallas Cowboys

Story originally appeared on Cowboys Wire