CeeDee Lamb out for season: Cowboys’ Micah Parsons and Cooper Rush appreciate toughness of star ‘warrior’

FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys’ injury-plagued 2024 season took another turn Thursday when the team announced they are signing All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for the team’s last two games. His AC joint sprain in his right shoulder continued to evolve to the point where it wasn’t worth the risk of having him on the field given that Dallas (7-8) is eliminated from postseason contention.

Lamb’s teammates marveled at his toughness and will to power through an injury that bothered the receiver so much that Lamb said he was seriously focused on “keeping my shoulder close to my body.”

“I know his shoulder has been bothering him, but I think for CeeDee (what) was so impressive – and he might be the best player I’ve ever seen with my own eyes – is that man… he just loves the game of football.” American,” Cowboys three-time All-Pro running back Micah Parsons said Thursday. “I don’t think anyone should question how much CeeDee brings to the team, or his factor. He’s QB-proof.”

Lamb recorded 935 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns on 74 catches as a rookie in 2020 when Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending ankle injury before racking up 1,000 or more receiving yards in each of his final four seasons. in the NFL. He led the entire league with 135 receptions and ranked second in receiving yards (1,749) in 2023, earning first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career. His 496 career receptions are the second-most in a player’s first five seasons in NFL history, just 14 behind former New Orleans Saints Pro Bowler Michael Thomas’ record of 510, set in the seasons from 2016 to 2020.

“I’ve seen him get 1,000 [receiving yards] with andy dalton [in 2020]”Parsons said. “I’ve seen him get 1,000 with Dak Prescott. [from 2021-2023]. I’ve seen him get 1000 with Cooper Rush. [in 2024]. At one point, you look funny at all these other wide receivers and say, ‘Oh, they’re not producing because they don’t have their quarterback.’ But CeeDee has proven time and time again that she can do it with anyone who throws the rock at her. You can find a way to open up. It’s competitive. He’s a dog… when it comes to what he’s fighting for, man, I just don’t think he’s comparable. That’s why I think he’s the best.”

Cowboys backup starting quarterback Cooper Rush was asked Thursday what he would miss most if Lamb were out for the team’s final two regular-season games. “Obviously his production,” Rush said. He called Lamb “a warrior” after his Week 17 performance against Tampa Bay in which Lamb caught seven passes for 105 yards.

“He’s a warrior,” Rush said of Lamb after Sunday night’s game. “That guy is as tough as they come. He’s out there moving it, throwing it or handing it off. It felt really good to get him on the field tonight. He’s been doing a lot of shorter stuff, throwing screens, yards after the catch and tonight he showed as well. what he can do on the field.

During the end of the first half of that game, Lamb landed hard on his shoulder, officially leaving him questionable to return. Almost immediately after the announcement was made, Lamb returned to action and caught a 10-yard pass that was just an inch short of a touchdown. Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott raced into the end zone to give Dallas a 20-7 lead on the next play with less than two minutes left in the second quarter.

“I really scored,” Lamb said after Sunday night’s game with a smile. “But yeah, my shoulder is out of control. Bro, I’m not even going to lie to you. I’m just out there fighting and doing what I do. Yeah, bro, it’s not fun.”

Dallas is now without the following Week 1 starters: quarterback Dak Prescott (torn hamstring), wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (AC joint sprain), right guard Zack Martin ( ankle), running back DeMarcus Lawrence (foot), linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (knee) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee).

Earlier on Thursday, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy made it clear that no player would be forced to dress in the final two games of the season if they were not healthy, and that is clearly the case given the announcement regarding Lamb. Dallas has two games left in its 2024 season against the Philadelphia Eagles (12-3) in Week 17 and at home against the Washington Commanders (10-5) in Week 18.

“There are a lot of things involved in this, but the players are not required to play,” McCarthy said Thursday. “That’s why you have the return to the practice group, the rehab group, so there is a process. There are protocols in place to ensure that because I think it’s been intensified even more with the 17-game season and so on. That part It hasn’t been like that.” “It hasn’t changed because of our record. We’ll go through the week and the 48 players who we think give us the best chance to win the game, who are healthy, will play.”