ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys (5-7) had a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day, winning their first home game of the season in a 27-20 victory over the New York Giants (2-10). Thursday night also marked the Giants’ eighth straight win and their 15th in their last 16 meetings.
However, Dallas also received some bad news: 2023 All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb reinjured his shoulder. Lamb’s sixth and final target on a night in which he caught just two passes for 39 yards occurred with 2:23 left in the first half. Lamb aggravated the AC joint sprain in his right shoulder with about eight minutes left in the third quarter. He attempted to play through the injury but left the game after a few plays.
“CeeDee had a shoulder injury, so he didn’t play again,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said after Thursday’s game.
Lamb fell on his shoulder three times in Week 9 at the Atlanta Falcons, and he overcame the injury to stay in the game that day. When he discussed his health Tuesday before the win over the Giants, he made it clear that neither his shoulder nor any other nagging injury would keep him off the football field this season.
“I’m beat up, I’m not even going to lie to you,” Lamb said Tuesday. “It is what it is bro. It’s that time of year in the season. I’m not going to get [into] There are no details, but we are clear. As far as I’m concerned, pride is incredible. I am willing to do anything to go out and make my presence felt. … With me out there, I feel like guys feel more comfortable and can play as confidently and quickly as they want, knowing they’re going to get the look they want. I’m all for the team winning, if you don’t already know. … This is without a doubt one of the hardest years for me on a physical level, but that doesn’t stop anything. That’s for sure.”
Even though Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was out all year with a hamstring injury and Dallas played rookies at left tackle and center for most of the year, Lamb has maintained his All-Pro caliber play this season. He leads the NFL with 79 receptions and ranks third in receiving yards with 880. The good news for Lamb and any other Cowboys dealing with scrapes and bruises is that they’re essentially set for an unofficial bye week in the future. Dallas’ Week 14 home game against the Cincinnati Bengals isn’t until “Monday Night Football” on December 9, which is 11 days from Thanksgiving.
“Rest might be the most important part of the schedule. If we just look at what we’ve been dealing with, rest and recovery will really help us,” McCarthy said. “The schedule is set for our players to have a week off. They have some responsibilities on Monday, we’ll start later on Wednesday. I want them to get away, charge their batteries and be ready to play.” “We’re going to have to play our best football, clearly, in front of us.”
McCarthy, by allowing his players to treat the next few days as a bye week, will allow Lamb, who prides himself on being something of an iron man, the best possible opportunity to return to AT&T Stadium on December 9 fully equipped and ready to play. roll against the Bengals in Week 14.
“I feel like it’s an underrated trait that I have,” Lamb said when discussing his durability ahead of Week 10 against the Eagles. “There are many blows that I have received. There are many things that I have had to accept and many others I feel would have failed. With that, I take it with a grain of salt and continue to move forward. We are all different. Many blows would have eliminated many guys, but with that, again, it’s more important, I’m not just there for myself, but I’m representing a lot of people. I’m taking care of a lot of people that I want to go out and inspire. That being said, I know someone paid their last. dollar to come see me play out there for. they.”
