CeeDee Lamb damage: Cowboys star reveals standing for Bengals recreation, opens up about drops with out Dak Prescott

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving victory over the New York Giants in Week 13 was nearly excellent — aside from All-Professional extensive receiver CeeDee Lamb reaggravating the AC be a part of sprain damage in his shoulder. 

Lamb tweaked the AC joint sprain in his proper shoulder with roughly eight minutes left within the third quarter. He tried to play by the damage however departed the sport after a couple of performs. Nevertheless, he introduced excellent news about his damage to mild after the crew’s Thursday observe: he’ll be good to go for “Monday Night time Soccer” in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals (4-8). He initially suffered the damage in Week 9 on the Atlanta Falcons when he fell on his shoulder thrice. Lamb powered by the damage to remain within the recreation that day, and he performed everything of Weeks 10-12 in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans and Washington Commanders.   

“I nonetheless have a shoulder damage, which I have been coping with for about 4 or 5 weeks now,” Lamb stated Thursday. “It comes with the territory man. It is about being a baller, and it is about going on the market and sacrificing and placing your self on the market to your guys. That is what I am doing. So far as Monday goes, I will be superb by then.”

This is not Lamb’s first expertise with an AC joint sprain in his shoulder since he additionally handled this damage as a freshman at Oklahoma in 2017. The one approach by it’s to battle it.

“It is not a nice feeling, clearly for everybody that is skilled an AC [joint] sprain. They perceive what I am going by,” Lamb stated. “It is superb. You bought to take it everyday. You need to keep on it. You need to preserve recovering. You bought to maintain [on it] even when it begins feeling good, you bought to remain on it. So with that, it is a massive difficult, however it ain’t nothing I have not been coping with earlier than. … It begins off as a psychological factor earlier than it turns into an unfathomable ache.” 

Luckily for Lamb, he can have had 11 days between video games with the Cowboys final enjoying on Thanksgiving earlier than suiting up in opposition to the Bengals on the Week 14 version of “Monday Night time Soccer” on Dec. 9

“Oh yeah, for positive. Most def,” Lamb stated when requested if the day without work has helped with the ache. “The primary couple days had been harder to say the least, however proper now I’ve my vary of movement. I’ve my energy again.”

Coping with drops with out Dak 

Lamb has had an uncharacteristic yr with 9 drops in 2024, tied for essentially the most he is ever had in a season of his five-year NFL profession. He suffered by 9 drops as a rookie in 2020. 

A 3rd of these drops occurred in Week 13 in opposition to the Giants. Luckily for Lamb, his miscues did not price the Cowboys in a 27-20 victory that prolonged the crew’s win streak to 2 video games. He additionally claims he’ll be capable to put them within the rearview mirror whereas battling by his shoulder damage. 

“It is extra of a psychological factor now,” he stated. “Clearly, I do know what I deliver to the desk and I do know that is not me. Simply form of battling myself to start with. That is a straightforward repair. Granted, I am glad it did not price us the sport [on Thanksgiving] for one, and my teammates had been there to choose me up. That is what soccer is all about. Be there when your brothers want you. I wanted them.”

What is the connection between 2020 and 2024? Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott went down with season-ending accidents. In 2020, Prescott fractured his ankle, and in 2024, Prescott suffered a hamstring tear. The connection between Lamb and Cowboys eight-year backup quarterback Cooper Rush, who’s beginning in Prescott’s place, is figure in progress. Nevertheless, Lamb feels their on-field chemistry is near erupting for an enormous play any recreation now. 

“Confidence,” Lamb stated when requested the place Rush has improved the final couple of weeks. “Confidence, decision-making and simply being poised. Every part he has completed. … We’re possibly one or two performs away from one thing breaking [open]. Coop simply must proceed doing him. I do know he’ll, and I’ve little question about it. … Coop is doing a terrific job of getting all of the receivers collectively and main the rally.”

Lamb vs. Chase

Two of the most effective extensive receivers in your entire NFL will go toe-to-toe Monday night time at AT&T Stadium. That is when the league’s chief in receiving yards (1,142) and receiving touchdowns (13) — Bengals extensive receiver Ja’Marr Chase — will share a area with Lamb, whose 79 catches are tied for the second-most within the NFL and whose 880 receiving yards are tied for the fifth-most within the NFL. Their respective groups are 1-1 in opposition to one another of their final two conferences. Lamb’s Cowboys gained, 20-17, over Chase’s Bengals in Week 2 of the 2022 season, and Chase’s LSU Tigers stomped Lamb’s Oklahoma Sooner, 63-28, within the 2019 School Soccer Playoff semifinals. 

Though they are not on the sphere on the similar time, Lamb relishes the matchup. 

“Yeah clearly it is enjoyable being part of video games like that,” Lamb stated when requested about enjoying different high receivers like Chase. “He is a terrific expertise over there and vice versa. I’ve seen him for years, going again to 2019, noticed him at LSU. He is a terrific participant. He is a terrific participant. Hell of a participant, really. He is doing a terrific job of exceeding all expectations that he set for himself this yr. I am excited to see it on the market. However as for me, I’ve to go on the market and play my recreation regardless. That is what makes this recreation as thrilling as it’s. You bought two nice gamers on the offensive aspect of the ball seeking to make the performs, make massive performs and at any level, go rating a landing.”