Leighton Vander Esch active; Dak Prescott on IR but he will remain around Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was moved to the active roster after missing the last four games with a fractured collarbone. He is expected to play Monday night against the Arizona Cardinals.
To make room for Vander Esch, the Cowboys officially moved injured quarterback Dak Prescott to the injured reserve list.
Prescott had surgery on Oct. 11 to repair a compound fracture and dislocation in his right ankle that he sustained earlier in the day during the Cowboys’ victory over the New York Giants.
Prescott has not had any post-surgery infections and will continue to take daily COVID-19 tests so he come to the facility and remain around the team, a source said.
Prescott is expected to be ready to go in six-to-eight months. Team owner Jerry Jones says he should back on the field with his teammates by April or early May of next year.
The Cowboys are betting that Prescott will return ahead of schedule just like Vander Esch who will play against the Cardinals just five weeks after fracturing his collarbone in the season opener and having it surgically repaired.
His return is welcomed by a Cowboys defense that ranks last in the league in points allowed and will need to be on their keys to slow down quarterback Kyler Murray and the Cardinals offense.
The Cowboys also promoted defensive tackle Justin Hamilton from the practice squad to the active roster to replace the injured Trysten Hill.
The full list of inactives for the Cardinals game include linebacker Luke Gifford and Rashad Smith, quarterback Garrett Gilbert, safety Reggie Robinson II, receiver Saivion Smith and receiver Malik Turner.
This story was originally published October 19, 2020 at 5:17 PM.
