Dallas Cowboys sophomore linebacker Leighton Vander Esch plans to have “minimally invasive” surgery on his neck in the coming weeks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 23-year-old one-time Pro-Bowl linebacker has been sidelined with an ailment affecting his neck, thus missing the Cowboys' past five games.

Vander Esch earned a Pro Bowl selection in his rookie year after Dallas selected the Boise State product in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Last season he recorded 140 combined tackles, two interceptions, and two tackles for losses, appearing in all sixteen games. This year, in an abbreviated stint of nine appearances—likely with his season over—Vander Esch has made 72 combined tackles and forced one fumble.

The Cowboys signed veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith last week in part to replace Vander Esch's noticeable absence on defense. Dallas also saw in the past weeks Nebraska product and undrafted rookie linebacker Luke Gifford hit the injured reserve (IR) list with a fractured arm and former Green Bay Packers LB Joe Thomas get hurt, although the latter suited up in limited snaps on Sunday in the road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sunday's losing effort has made it that harder for the Cowboys to finally win the division, although the Eagles still need to win next week against the New York Giants. Regardless of what happens in Week 17, America's Team will surely be without defensive difference-maker Vander Esch, whose upcoming surgery will prevent the second-year linebacker from getting on the gridiron in the last regular-season game or likely the postseason.