Sunday’s game dealt a heavy blow to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving them with both a crushing defeat on national television at the hands of their recent nemesis, the San Francisco 49ers, and a slew of injuries.
On Monday, the grim news arrived that KaVontae Turpin may be sidelined for an extended period, facing a 4-6 week recovery from a high ankle sprain. Additionally, C.J. Goodwin’s season appears in jeopardy due to a torn pectoral muscle, although there remains a slim chance for his return.
Mike McCarthy addressed the media on Monday and added to the injury woes by revealing that linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, along with Goodwin, is a candidate for placement on the injured reserve list.
Shortly thereafter, The Dallas Morning News confirmed that the Cowboys are indeed planning to move Vander Esch to injured reserve. Furthermore, there’s speculation that the team might seek to bolster their linebacker corps with a veteran addition. Notably, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, following McCarthy’s statement, suggested that Micah Parsons could assume a more traditional linebacker role.
The Cowboys’ upcoming game will see them on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers. Interestingly, it was in Los Angeles during Week 2 of his rookie season that Micah Parsons made his debut primarily as an edge rusher. It would be somewhat ironic if he were to transition back into a more conventional linebacker role, but that scenario is still a week away.
In any case, this situation presents a significant challenge for the Cowboys, as they don’t possess a surplus of linebacker depth. If Vander Esch does indeed find himself on the injured reserve list, he will be sidelined for a minimum of four games, which is far from ideal for Dallas.
