Earlier this year, former first-round draft pick Leighton Vander Esch decided to hang the cleats after suffering yet another injury during the 2023 NFL season. But that doesn't mean he's done helping out the Dallas Cowboys even from far away.
As the Cowboys prepare to run an overhauled linebacker unit to the field in the upcoming season, including newcomers Eric Kendricks, Marist Liufau, and the yet-to-debut DeMarvion Overshown, Vander Esch is providing pointers to someone he truly got to know last year: Third-year linebacker Damone Clark, who started every game in last season.
Now, Clark has to fight for his starting role with the new faces joining the 53-man roster and with Micah Parsons getting some work in at off-ball linebacker. To overcome such an assignment, he's tapped into Vander Esch, Patrik Walker from DallasCowboys.com reported . Clark has also communicated with former Cowboys LB and ultimate what-if Sean Lee, as Walker details:
Recently, Clark attended a retirement ceremony for Vander Esch and that's where Vander Esch connected Clark with former two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Sean Lee — he and Lee exchanging phone numbers to remain in contact going forward with the goal of Clark picking his brain as well.
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"Having a guy like Leighton and Sean Lee — I told [them] I'm a sponge," (Clark) said of the two former Cowboys' linebackers. "I can never [learn] too much. This is my third year but second full season, and anything I can do to get better, I'm gonna do it."- Patrik Walker (@VoiceofTheStar)
Considering a big part of Vander Esch's and Lee's style was always a high-IQ brand of football, Clark should benefit greatly from their knowledge as he starts to become known for his football smarts. Earlier in the offseason, LB coach Scott McCurley praised his versatility after taking on many roles.
"He's gotten experience all over the field, his confidence right now is up, and he's going to be playing fast and we're excited for him," McCurley said in May. "He can play anywhere, he knows it and he understands it."
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