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Source: Leighton Vander Esch has neck surgery; sights set on participating in Cowboys’ offseason program

Jason Garrett, before he was fired, said Vander Esch should make a full recovery from the planned surgery.

Dallas Cowboys starting weakside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch underwent neck surgery on Tuesday. A source said the goal is for Vander Esch to be ready for some portions of the offseason program.

Vander Esch, a 2018 first-round pick, was a Pro Bowler his rookie season but missed the last five games of the 2019 season with a bulging disk. The neck surgery wasn’t considered serious, but has raised questions about the long-term health of Vander Esch.

When Vander Esch entered the NFL draft it was determined through medical examinations that he had cervical spinal stenosis, a condition featuring a narrowed spinal column in the neck. This health issue leads to increased pinched nerves and possibly a bulging or herniated disk.

Surgery is one method to help mitigate the problem.

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Cowboys officials and those close to Vander Esch are not expecting any long-term problems with his neck.

Jason Garrett, before he was fired by the Cowboys, said Vander Esch should make a full recovery.

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In nine games this year, Vander Esch had 72 tackles, four tackles for loss and three pass breakups.