Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch has had a whirlwind of an NFL career, and his neck is a major reason why.
The first-round pick was one of the most productive linebackers in the league as a rookie in 2018, but injury concerns and shaky subsequent play nearly ended his Cowboys career earlier than anyone expected.
Vander Esch was able to stay healthy in 2021 and played well enough to earn a new contract from the Cowboys despite the franchise declining his fifth-year option. Now, the 26-year-old is playing a key role on a Dallas team that has Super Bowl aspirations.
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Considering Vander Esch has been productive whenever he has been fully healthy, it makes sense for him to take every precaution.
Here's why you'll see Vander Esch wearing a neck brace on the field during the playoffs.
Why does Leighton Vander Esch wear a neck brace?
Vander Esch has worn a neck brace since his college career at Boise State because of a neck condition. The brace acts as a stabilizer and is designed to protect his neck from snapping too far back.
Concerns about Vander Esch's neck followed him into the 2018 NFL Draft, but the exact condition wasn't revealed and he was still selected in the first round (19th overall) by the Cowboys.
After suffering more neck issues in 2019, Vander Esch was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and underwent surgery. That contributed to the Cowboys' decision to decline Vander Esch's fifth-year option despite such a promising rookie season.
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Fortunately for Vander Esch, he has been able to stay on the field for most of the past two seasons, and that has translated to production.
Leighton Vander Esch injury timeline
Vander Esch downplayed concerns about his neck heading into the 2018 draft, but injuries have hampered his NFL career.
He missed seven games in 2019 with a nerve issue in his neck before being diagnosed with spinal stenosis and undergoing surgery. Vander Esch missed six more games in 2020 with a fractured collarbone. He finishedwith a career-low 60 tackles.
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He was able to play in all 17 games in 2021 and was on the field for 14 of 17 this past season, but the concerns popped up again in Week 15 when Vander Esch left a game against the Jaguars with what was described as a neck injury. Coach Mike McCarthy said he was "concerned" about the injury, but an MRI revealed a stinger unrelated to the neck.
Vander Esch was able to return to the field for the Cowboys' wild-card game against the Buccaneers and recorded nine tackles.
