Former Chiefs OL Cam Erving out with MCL sprain

Former Chiefs lineman Cam Erving was hurt in his debut with the Cowboys.

It was a debut to forget for Cam Erving on Sunday night. Not only did his new team, the Dallas Cowboys, lose a close game in primetime to the Los Angeles Rams but Erving also went down with an injury during the game and wasn’t able to return.

After the game, NFL reporter Michael Gehlken learned that Erving was diagnosed with a sprained MCL and would have an MRI on Monday following the game.

The Cowboys signed Erving to a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million in free agency this offseason to help provide experience and versatility along the team’s offensive front. For Erving, it signaled the end of a three-year run with the Kansas City Chiefs, one capped by the team’s first Super Bowl run in 50 seasons.

The Cowboys expected Erving to serve as a backup when he first signed, but then came the move to place right tackle La’El Collins on injured reserve after dealing with an undisclosed injury during the preseason. That opened up a starting spot—potentially—at right tackle. However in training camp, Erving was unable to stave off competition from an unexpected source in undrafted rookie Terence Steele.

Once again, the story of Erving’s career has been an inability to climb the depth chart of multiple teams despite being a former first round pick of the Cleveland Browns. As a versatile prospect out of Florida State, the Browns found themselves souring on Erving’s stock which is how Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was able to trade for him in a low-risk move. Yet in Kansas City, Erving remained a super-sub who was pushed into the starting line-up only when injuries took their toll.

Erving has 42 starts in 69 games in his five-year NFL career.