What injuries to Leighton Vander Esch, Blake Jarwin mean for the Dallas Cowboys
As if opening a new season with a loss is not bad enough, the Dallas Cowboys saw two starters go down with injury during Sunday night's game with the Los Angeles Rams. Starting linebacker Leighton Vander Esch left the game in the first half of Sunday's loss with a collarbone injury. Vander Esch has a […]
As if opening a new season with a loss is not bad enough, the Dallas Cowboys saw two starters go down with injury during Sunday night's game with the Los Angeles Rams.
Starting linebacker Leighton Vander Esch left the game in the first half of Sunday's loss with a collarbone injury. Vander Esch has a history with neck injuries, including an injury that ended his season prematurely last year, so it is unfortunate that he is already banged up again.
The team will place Vander Esch on injured reserve with the expectation that he returns later in the season. For the immediate future, the Cowboys are left with Jaylon Smith, Luke Gifford, and Justin March at MIKE and WILL linebacker. Undrafted free agent Francis Bernard impressed during training camp and is on the practice squad.
Jon Machota of The Athleticwrote on the Utah Utes product in late-August, ranking him among the most impressive players during the early stages of training camp:
Bernard deserves to be mentioned because he recorded back to back interceptions during the first two days of padded practices. One came on a pass from Dak Prescott in individual drills. The other was thrown by Clayton Thorson in team drills. Bernard certainly has a shot to make the final 53-man roster.
Dallas desperately needs someone — anyone — to step up at that position. Could that be Bernard? The Rams rushed for 158 yards versus the Cowboys, and the linebackers did not perform very well against the ground game or in coverage. Not having Vander Esch or the veteran Sean Lee out there only makes things worse.
Tight end is an area of concern for the Dallas Cowboys, too.
Blake Jarwin joined Vander Esch as Cowboys starters to leave week one's matchup early. If you are a least a little bit familiar with Cowboys Twitter, you know how much excitement there was for Jarwin this season without Jason Witten on the roster to steal snaps.
Jarwin has flashed athleticism, play-making ability, and potential during his young career with the Dallas Cowboys, and this was supposed to be the season where he was going to be fully unleashed. Defenses would focus on Ezekiel Elliott and the trio at wide receiver, leaving opportunities for Jarwin to do damage from his tight end position.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to see Jarwin breakout and take the next step in his development. It was reported on Sunday evening that Jarwin had torn his ACL on a non-contact play during the first half against the Rams.
The Oklahoma State product grabbed one catch for a 12-yard gain before exiting in the second quarter. Dalton Schultz filled in at tight end, catching one ball for 11 yards on a third-and-10 play in the second half.
Schultz did drop a red zone target, and he also made a critical error on the Cowboys' fourth down attempt in the fourth quarter, as ESPN's Bill Barnwell explained on Twitter:
Jarwin was expected to provide Prescott and the Cowboys with an explosive target at tight end that could stretch the field and open things up for the offense when defenses prioritized the other weapons on the unit.
Schultz does not offer that same kind of ability, which takes away some of the playmaking potential from the offense. Still, the Cowboys should have enough talent at the skill positions to at least make up for some of Jarwin's loss.
The Cowboys also carry Blake Bell and Sean McKeon on the roster. Bell, a former quarterback at Oklahoma, has been primarily used as a blocker during his NFL career — Bell only has 38 catches for 424 yards and no touchdowns to his name through five seasons.
McKeon, meanwhile, comes from the University of Michigan as an undrafted free agent. The former Wolverine grabbed 60 catches for 668 yards and six touchdowns during his four-year career in Ann Arbor, including two scores as a senior. Like Schultz and Bell, McKeon does not offer the same kind of athletic potential or play-making ability that Jarwin brought to the table.
It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys are comfortable with what they have on their roster, or if they will go out and add a veteran from the free agent market. Current available free agents include Delaine Walker and Charles Clay at tight end and Todd Davis and Nigel Bradham at linebacker.
Regardless of which route the Dallas Cowboys do decide to take at both positions, it is clear that players need to step up in a big way. The pressure is even greater after kicking off the season with a loss.
Featured image via Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
