FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is taking a look at a 4-6 month absence on account of a neck pressure suffered in Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers, consistent with a couple of resources.

Professor Mike McCarthy mentioned Vander Esch is most probably headed to injured stock, this means that he would leave out a minimum of the after 4 video games. Nearest after month’s sport towards the Los Angeles Chargers, the Cowboys have their bye, which might put Vander Esch’s go back at Nov. 19 on the Carolina Panthers, or as overdue as Nov. 30 towards the Seattle Seahawks.

He has a historical past of neck problems, lacking seven video games in 2019 and present process surgical operation upcoming the season. He overlooked the general 3 video games of extreme season with a neck trauma. He suffered this trauma with 13:59 left within the fourth quarter when he was once driven from at the back of and collided onto Micah Parsons’ leg.

X-rays taken on the stadium have been destructive, and Vander Esch had an MRI and alternative exams carried out Monday.

“High caution is in place here,” McCarthy mentioned.

The Cowboys entered the season green and slim at linebacker. Rookie DeMarvion Overshown suffered a torn ACL within the preseason, which moved Markquese Bell from protection to linebacker. 2d-year linebacker Damone Clark is taking part in via a shoulder trauma. Within the extreme two video games, the Cowboys increased linebacker Malik Jefferson from the apply squad, and extreme month they added Mikel Jones to the apply squad, however each have been most commonly special-teams roles.

McCarthy mentioned the Cowboys are exploring the potential of including a veteran.

“In our personnel meeting we touched on some potential opportunities,” McCarthy mentioned, “but we just want to make sure we have all of the information before we head down that road.”

As a result of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn interchanges linebackers and safeties, they may be able to produce up for one of the vital loss. Safeties Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker can breaking in because the defensive playcaller in Vander Esch’s absence. The Cowboys misplaced cornerback Trevon Diggs for the season to a torn ACL in a tradition upcoming two video games.

“We also know there’s going to be parts that challenge us through the year,” Quinn mentioned. “That’s not just on our team, that’s on every team. So that’s why you better have a big, deep crew that can roll and be able to make adjustments.”

One choice might be transferring Parsons to an off-the-ball linebacker function upcoming he has performed most commonly as an edge participant the moment two seasons; then again, taking Parsons out of a pass-rushing function would harm the protection.

“That’s part of the balance we’ll have to face,” Quinn mentioned, “and work through it.”

On particular groups, the Cowboys can be with out their perfect participant in C.J. Goodwin, who suffered a torn left pectoral towards the 49ers and can exit on injured stock. Professional Bowl returner KaVontae Turpin is operating via an ankle factor however McCarthy was once no longer able to rule him out of the Chargers sport simply but. If he can’t play games, upcoming Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn would deal with the go back tasks.

“With C.J., I can’t describe how big of a loss that is on the game field, of course,” particular groups coordinator John Fassel mentioned. “But, gosh, everything else he does Monday through Saturday, meeting room, practice field, mentorship. And he’ll still do that, but we’ll miss him on Sunday. That’s a hard one to say, ‘OK, you do this job,’ because he’s just different. He’s very special.”