Vander Esch (neck) announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vander Esch, a 2018 first-round pick, earned a Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors, but he now retires from the NFL after six seasons after having been released by the Cowboys last week. Injuries disrupted the promising linebacker's career, including the 2023 campaign, in which he missed the final 12 games due to a recurring neck issue. Vander Esch retires with 71 regular-season appearances, 469 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed and three forced fumbles under his belt and as a forever 'what-if' for Cowboys fans imagining scenarios wherein the Boise State product had managed to stay healthier.

The Cowboys released Vander Esch (neck) with a failed physical designation Friday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 2018 first-round pick missed the final 12 games of the Cowboys' season in 2023 due to a neck issue, and he's now been cut loose with a failed physical designation. Vander Esch has missed three-plus games in four of his six years in the NFL, appearing in 71 of Dallas' 99 games during that span. The 28-year-old linebacker is now free to sign with another team once he moves past his neck injury.

Vander Esch (neck) is officially out for the season, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stated Tuesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vander Esch, who has a long history of neck injuries and was born with cervical spinal stenosis, was not expected back anytime soon despite being eligible to return from injured reserve this week. There is concern that this latest neck injury may force the 27-year-old into retirement, but Jones declined to comment when asked about that possibility.

Vander Esch (neck) remains without a concrete timeline for a potential return from injured reserve, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The only certainty regarding Vander Esch and a potential return is that it will not occur within the next couple weeks. He has a history of neck issues and sustained another one in Week 5 against the 49ers, so it is not surprising to see the Cowboys err on the side of caution here. Thus, Damone Clark will continue to fill in on the edge opposite Micah Parsons for the foreseeable future.

The Cowboys placed Vander Esch (neck) on injured reserve Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Vander Esch has a history of neck issues and sustained another injury to it last Sunday night against San Francisco. He'll be required to miss at least the next four games and won't be eligible to return until Week 11 against the Panthers. Rashaan Evans was added to give the Cowboys some experienced depth at the position.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday that Vander Esch (neck) will be placed on injured reserve, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Dallas may not make the transaction official until later in the week, but once Vander Esch is placed on IR, he'll be sidelined for the next four games, at minimum. According to Gehlken, Vander Esch's neck injury is expected to entail a 4-to-6-week recovery process, so he may not be a safe bet to return from IR when first eligible to play Nov. 19 versus the Panthers in Week 11. The Cowboys signed Rashaan Evans to their practice squad Thursday, and he could be elevated for Monday's game against the Chargers as the Cowboys look to add depth at linebacker alongside starters Micah Parsons and Damone Clark.

The Cowboys are expected to place Vander Esch (neck) on injured reserve, Michael Gehlken and Calvin Watkins of DallasNews.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vander Esch injured his neck in the second half of Sunday's Week 5 loss to the 49ers after colliding with teammate Micah Parsons. He subsequently underwent X-rays, which fortunately were negative. However, he was born with cervical spinal stenosis, which leads to increased pinched nerves, and has dealt with neck issues since college. As a result, the Cowboys appear in line to exercise caution with their starting weakside linebacker by sending him to IR to focus on a full recovery. His absence is sure to be felt, as he was the defense's signal caller and second leading tackler on the season. In his absence, Malike Jefferson is likely to be the next-man-up.

Vander Esch (neck) is questionable to return to Sunday's contest with the 49ers, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vander Esch suffered a neck injury in the second half of Sunday's Week 6 game in San Francisco and he's unlikely to return. The team will likely update his status following the contest.

Vander Esch recorded a team-high seven tackles (four solo) and returned a fumble 11 yards for a touchdown in Sunday's 38-3 win over the Patriots.

EDGE Analysis

The second-quarter TD was the first of two defensive scores for the Cowboys in the second quarter as they put the game away before halftime, and it was also the first touchdown of Vander Esch's career. The veteran linebacker only has 20 tackles through four games, but Dallas has dominated three of those contests and the defense hasn't been on the field all that much. That could change in Week 5 against the undefeated 49ers, as Vander Esch and the rest of the Cowboys' linebacking corps try to contain the likes of Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle.

Vander Esch recorded six solo tackles in the Cowboys' 40-0 win over the Giants on Sunday night.

EDGE Analysis

In what was a lopsided contest, Vander Esch was still able to get six stops while playing 47 total defensive snaps. The 27-year-old is coming off of a 2022 campaign where he notched 90 tackles, a figure that he'll look to challenge in 2023.