The Dallas Cowboys placed tight end Peyton Hendershot on injured reserve Thursday with an ankle injury, while inside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (neck) will soon join him, according to coach Mike McCarthy.
Hendershot must miss at least the next four games and will be eligible to return in Week 11 at Carolina (Nov. 19).
Vander Esch, the Cowboys’ primary signal-caller on defense, left Sunday’s 42-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers with a neck injury. McCarthy said during a Thursday news conference that Vander Esch will be placed on IR.
Vander Esch has battled neck and back injuries over his six seasons, including a fractured collarbone in 2019 that ended his season. In five games this year, the 27-year-old Vander Esch has 30 tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
The Cowboys (3-2) signed tight end Sean McKeon from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster ahead of Monday night’s road game against the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2).
Dallas also signed linebacker Rashaan Evans to the practice squad and designated cornerback Nahshon Wright (ankle) to return from injured reserve.
Hendershot, 24, was inactive for the past two games but did not show the progress physically that the Cowboys were looking for.
He has one catch for 3 yards in three games this season after catching 11 passes for 103 yards and two scores in 17 games (two starts) as an undrafted rookie in 2022.
–Field Level Media
