Source: Dallas Cowboys Cut Leighton Vander Esch As Replacement Eric Kendricks Signs

FRISCO – It is difficult to imagine an NFL player doing much more to attempt to stay on the field than Leighton Vander Esch, a valiant six-year effort that on Friday …

But that’s over now, as a source tells CowboysSI.com on Friday that “LVE” has been cut … right at the same time that Eric Kendricks has been signed.

lve wolf
Vander Esch earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2018 as rookie first-round pick and his future was obviously considered bright. But he entered the league with concerns regarding his neck, and those concerns did manifest themselves over the course of time, no matter how much effort the “Wolf Hunter” put in to change his body.

A bulging disk ended his second NFL season. There was a fusion procedure performed in early 2020. He was able to start all 17 games in 2020, and coaches testified that he played at a high level.

But worries about his injury-related future impacted recent contract offers given him by Dallas. And when he was injured in the 2023 season, speculation not only noted that it could mean the Cowboys linebacker was dealing with a career-threatening neck injury, but also that he would be considering retirement at age 28.

And now here we are. … with the Cowboys now confirming the move as a “failed physical” designation.

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones indicated recently that the team was giving elbow room to LVE regarding his decision.

“Leighton will speak to that,” Jones said. “Certainly an injury issue with him that, you know, he’s getting his hands around. Let him speak to that.”

And now Vander Esch has – along with the Cowboys – essentially done so.

Vander Esch’s departure gives Dallas about $2 million in cap room, and it is not a coincidence that his replacement Kendricks just signed his deal in free agency to officially join Dallas.