New Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rashaan Evans waited for the perfect opportunity to show up to continue his NFL career. He sure got one this week.

Not only do I say that because he'll be working with one of the most talented defenses in the NFL (which they are even if the frustration from last weekend has yet to fully wear off) but he'll likely get a chance to play right away.

With Leighton Vander Esch going into Injured Reserve and only one "true" off-ball linebacker rostered in Damone Clark, the veteran LB might be forced to play as soon as Monday night when the Cowboys take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.

The good news is it sounds like Evans is in shape and ready to go. The bad news is being active on such short notice is a tall task. 

"It doesn't take me too much (to be ready to play)," Evans told reporters on Thursday. "At this point right now, I was training all season really just to be a part of somebody's team and at this point, the (Cowboys) saw something in me. (…) I'm ready whenever they're ready."

The Cowboys' coaching staff might be forced to take his word for it as Clark's main running partner is set to be safety Markquese Bell, who has taken up much of the workload at LB. 

Sure, the team could also look to give Parsons some reps. But as I wrote in an earlier article, that's far from ideal. As big of a star as he is, he's prepared hard to play edge rusher, not linebacker. And when we did see him off-ball, it wasn't good enough to believe he'll be anywhere as valuable as he rushing the passer.

There's certainly some motivation to throw Evans to the wolves as early as MNF versus the Chargers. For what it's worth, he was officially signed to the practice squad and is eligible to be elevated for gameday. 

And yet, no amount of urgency can prepare a player who just isn't ready. The Cowboys will need to balance things behind the scenes before making a final decision, one that could be impacted by the fact that a Bye is peeking its head next week. 

“I’m a rep guy,” Evans added. “I like to have a lot of reps, so even if we weren’t preparing for another game, I would love to be able to go out there and have as many reps as I can to get a feel for the game and to get back into the groove of football."

Evans, a former 2018 first-round draft pick who was picked three slots after Vander Esch, also mentioned he's been ready for a call all this time, even if it's a first in his career to be signed so late in the year. As soon as the phone rang, he packed his bags and got to Dallas. 

Evans started 17 games last year with the Atlanta Falcons and hit a career-high 159 tackles. While he's clearly not one of the most athletic backers in the NFL, he can still deliver a good blow and a veteran presence on the field.

"Physicality," Evans said when asked about what people can expect from him. 

That much is evident on tape. While Evans is far from the perfect player, he's a tone-setter when shooting through gaps and making the hard hits. As the Cowboys gear up to face Austin Ekeler and the Chargers, they might need exactly that. 

Cowboys announce slew of roster moves entering Week 6

Big potential return ahead.