The Dallas Cowboys have signed linebacker Rashaan Evans for their practice squad, the NFL team announced on Thursday.

Evans joins the Cowboys after linebacker Leighton Vander Esch sustained a neck injury during Dallas’ 42-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

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Asked for an update on Vander Esch’s injury on Wednesday, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said: “The update would be he’s not available this week, and he’s going to be designated on the injured-reserve list.”

Dallas signed Evans after a Tuesday workout. The Cowboys also worked out linebackers Jordan Evans, Brandon Smith and Tanner Vallejo on Tuesday.

For the Atlanta Falcons last season, Rashaan Evans recorded 159 tackles, tied for the seventh-most in the NFL. He became a free agent when the new league fiscal year started on March 15 and remained unsigned until Sept. 12.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Evans for their practice squad on the same day they put linebacker Nakobe Dean on injured reserve. But the Eagles released Evans four days later after moving Huntsville High School alumnus Nicholas Morrow from the practice squad to the active roster.

Morrow has started the past four games in Dean’s place and recorded 21 tackles, three sacks, seven tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

A 2018 first-round draft pick off Alabama’s 2017 CFP national-championship team, Evans played four seasons with the Tennessee Titans before signing with the Falcons in 2022.

Evans was the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 6A Lineman of the Year at Auburn High School in 2013 and a first-team All-American selection by the American Football Coaches Association in 2017.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.