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The Dallas Cowboys are sidelining wide receiver CeeDee Lamb with two games left in the season due to a sprained right shoulder that has plagued him throughout the latter half of the year. This decision comes as the team aims to prioritize his long-term health over short-term gains.
On Thursday, the organization announced that further examinations indicated sufficient damage to prevent Lamb from participating in the upcoming game against Philadelphia and the final matchup at home against Washington. Fortunately, the team does not anticipate that surgery will be necessary.
After being eliminated from playoff contention just hours before their narrow 26-24 win over Tampa Bay, the Cowboys are now looking ahead to the future.
With Lamb’s absence, the Cowboys will conclude the regular season with at least five former Pro Bowl players on injured reserve, a stark reminder of the team’s injury woes.
Among the notable injured players is quarterback Dak Prescott, who managed to play only eight games before suffering a hamstring tear that ended his season. Right guard Zack Martin, a seven-time All-Pro, also faced a similar fate, opting for season-ending ankle surgery after participating in just ten games.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence has not seen action since Week 4 due to a foot injury, while cornerback Trevon Diggs struggled through various injuries, finishing his season after 11 games due to a knee injury.
Lamb initially sustained his shoulder injury during a tough 27-21 loss to Atlanta on November 3, where he hit the ground hard on two occasions. Despite the pain, he showcased his resilience by recording at least 100 receiving yards in his last two games—both victories—before being shut down.
The 25-year-old receiver had a tumultuous offseason, missing all practices and preseason games due to a contract dispute after achieving career highs in receptions (an NFL-best 135), receiving yards (a club-record 1,749), and touchdowns (12) in 2023.
His holdout concluded with a lucrative four-year extension worth $136 million in late August. However, the Cowboys and Lamb have struggled to replicate last season’s success, resulting in Dallas (7-8) missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020, which was also Lamb’s rookie year.
As the season wraps up, Lamb’s final stats reflect 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns, a testament to his talent despite the challenges faced throughout the year.
