FRISCO, Texas — CeeDee Lamb‘s season is over with two video games to play because the Dallas Cowboys opted to close down the vast receiver Thursday.
Lamb, who has handled a sprained AC joint in his shoulder since a Nov. 3 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and has aggravated it nearly weekly, had extra scans this week that confirmed the harm had worsened. With the Cowboys eradicated from the playoffs, the crew determined to sit down its No. 1 vast receiver.
In a press release, the Cowboys mentioned he isn’t anticipated to want surgical procedure and will make a full restoration via a “means of therapy and rehabilitation.”
Lamb is the Cowboys’ fifth Pro Bowl participant to have his season finish early due to harm, becoming a member of quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring), proper guard Zack Martin (ankle), defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee).
Pro Bowl cornerback DaRon Bland spent the primary 10 video games of the season on injured reserve earlier than getting back from surgical procedure on his left foot Nov. 24. Pro Bowl go rusher Micah Parsons missed 4 video games earlier within the 12 months due to a excessive ankle sprain however didn’t go on IR.
Lamb, who signed a four-year, $136 million extension in August that made him the second-highest-paid receiver within the NFL (behind Justin Jefferson), is second within the NFL in receptions with 101 and third in receiving yards with 1,194, regardless of taking part in the previous seven video games with backup quarterback Cooper Rush after Prescott’s harm.
Lamb is coming off back-to-back 100-yard video games in opposition to the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reaching triple figures within the first half of each. After a 52-yard reception within the second quarter final week in opposition to the Buccaneers wherein he landed on his shoulder, Lamb’s snaps had been restricted within the second half.
The Cowboys altered their follow schedule this week due to Christmas. Their first full exercise of the week occurred Thursday, main into Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Replacing Lamb will probably be tough. Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert will probably be their high two vast receivers with Jonathan Mingo, Ryan Flournoy and Jalen Brooks on the 53-man roster. The Cowboys may elevate Jalen Moreno-Cropper or Kelvin Harmon from the follow squad.
Asked earlier than the crew’s announcement what the Cowboys would miss with out Lamb, Rush mentioned, “Obviously his manufacturing. You can communicate on that. It’s arduous to exchange that a lot manufacturing. There’s guys prepared. We’ve bought guys. We’ve bought a really deep receiver room. A bunch of good dudes, who’re champing on the bit to go play.”
Lamb turned simply the third participant in NFL historical past with 100 receptions in three of his first 5 seasons, becoming a member of Michael Thomas and Brandon Marshall. Only Thomas (510) has extra receptions in a participant’s first 5 seasons than Lamb’s 496.
Parsons had excessive reward for Lamb when he talked within the locker room Thursday.
“I believe for CeeDee, what’s so spectacular is he is perhaps the most effective participant I’ve seen with my very own eyes,” Parsons mentioned. “Man, he simply loves the sport of soccer. Like I do not suppose anyone ought to ever query how a lot CeeDee brings to the crew. He’s QB-proof. I’ve seen him get 1,000 [yards] with Andy Dalton. I’ve seen him get 1,000 with Dak Prescott. I seen him get 1,000 with Cooper Rush. You give grace to all these different vast receivers and say, ‘Oh, they are not producing as a result of they do not bought their quarterback,’ however CeeDee exhibiting time and time once more he can do it with anybody throwing him the rock. He can discover a approach to get open. He’s aggressive. He’s a dawg. Like in terms of what is going on to struggle via, man, I simply do not suppose he is comparable. That’s why I believe he is the most effective.”
