Vander Esch likely out for the season
FRISCO — Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is likely to miss the rest of the season with a neck injury that sidelined him the past month, and his career could be in jeopardy as well.
Owner/general manager Jerry Jones confirmed the update on his weekly radio show Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Vander Esch hasn’t played since injuring his neck again in a 42-10 loss to San Francisco on Oct. 8.
The sixth-year pro missed seven of the final nine games in his second year with a neck injury.
Buffalo OC fired after sloppy loss
Witnessing a troubling surge in turnovers and a worrisome drop in quarterback Josh Allen’s confidence provided Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott little choice but to fire offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey on Tuesday.
The move came 10 weeks into the season and a day after the three-time defending AFC East champions dropped to 5-5 to fall further out of the playoff picture following a sloppy, turnover-filled 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos.
“We need to be a confident offensive football team and find consistent production, and that’s really what it came down to,” McDermott said. “I’m as frustrated as anyone out there. We’re trying to win one game at a time right now, and we get a chance to right the ship.”
Vikings sign Barr to bolster defense
Minnesota signed linebacker Anthony Barr to their practice squad on Tuesday, bringing back its 2014 first-round draft pick and four-time Pro Bowl pick for depth after an injury to leading tackler Jordan Hicks.
Hicks, a former Longhorn, bruised his right shin in the first quarter of Minnesota’s 27-19 win on Sunday over New Orleans, returned late in the second quarter and was forced out of the game for good after an aggravation of the injuryin the third quarter.
Ex-Pats CB Jones claimed by Raiders
The Raiders have added to their cornerback room, and it comes in the form of a player with ties to interim coach Antonio Pierce.
Jack Jones, a secondyear cornerback whom the Patriots waived Monday, has been claimed by the Raiders. Jones played high school football at Pierce’s alma mater, Long Beach Poly, and under Pierce when he coached at Arizona State.