The Dallas Cowboys are ending their season without All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb, who has been dealing with a sprained right shoulder. After additional examinations revealed the extent of the damage, the team decided to keep Lamb off the field for the remaining two games against Philadelphia and Washington. They clarified that the injury will not require surgical intervention. The decision came shortly after the Cowboys were taken out of playoff contention following their 26-24 victory against Tampa Bay.
The team will conclude the season with five key players being on injury reserve, including Lamb. Among the others sidelined are quarterback Dak Prescott, who was only able to play eight games before an injury to his hamstring ended his season prematurely. Similarly, right guard Zack Martin was limited to 10 games before opting for season-ending ankle surgery.
Adding to this list of absentees are defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and cornerback Trevon Diggs. DeMarcus Lawrence did not feature in a match after Week 4 due to a foot injury. Trevon Diggs had a range of injuries throughout the season and was only able to play 11 games before a knee injury concluded his season prematurely.
Lamb first injured his shoulder in a 27-21 defeat at Atlanta on November 3, when he fell on it sharply twice. Despite this, Lamb persisted and achieved at least 100 yards in his last two on-field appearances, both of which were victories for the Cowboys, before being taken off the roster.
Despite sitting out the entire offseason and preseason due to a contract dispute, the 25-year-old Lamb showed impressive performance on the field. In 2023, he set career peaks with 135 catches (leading the NFL), a club-record 1,749 yards receiving, and 12 touchdowns. His holdout ended with a four-year extension worth $136 million at the end of August. However, despite this promising start, neither the Cowboys nor Lamb could replicate this level of performance again during this season— a disappointment that will see the Cowboys miss the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Rounding off the season, Lamb closes with 101 catches for 1,194 yards alongside six touchdowns. This wave of injuries for the Cowboys, particularly the loss of Lamb, comes as a significant blow to the team, ultimately contributing to their elimination from the playoffs this year.
