A short minute of video of explanation probably worth more than several paragraphs of my writings. I have also included below an anatomy drawing of the front of the neck with superficial layers resected so that you can better see how close the esophagus is to the deepest anterior neck muscles ( longus colli). Some acute neck injuries can cause spasm in the longus colli, which will make it difficult and painful to swallow due to their proximal spacial relationship

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/THNja9a_WE4