CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A tenet of leadership is in being able to gut through adversity and to show those around you what it looks like to never say die. That's precisely what CeeDee Lamb has been doing over the course of the 2024 season, as he and the Dallas Cowboys attempt, on a weekly basis, to overcome a season drowned by Murphy's Law.
"You always have to start somewhere," said Lamb of the Cowboys' 30-14 victory at Bank of America Stadium, the team's third-highest point output this season. "Last week was a good stepping stoop for us to come out here and get into the end zone multiple times was a good feeling."
Despite nursing a shoulder injury that is now weeks old and still an issue, the All-Pro wide receiver has been a driving force for an offense now led by backup quarterback Cooper Rush.
On Sunday, in the Cowboys' clash with the Carolina Panthers, Lamb surpassed 1,000 yards receiving for the fourth consecutive season and, in doing so, he made history by becoming the first player in the existence of the Cowboys to achieve the feat in four of his first five seasons in Dallas.
"It means a lot and that all of my hard work is paying off," said Lamb. "I'm mad consistent with my work and my approach towards every year, and it's good to see that it shows up. I'm grateful for it and grateful for the opportunity to be in this organization — doing what I'm doing — and I'm looking forward to many more of those [records]."
And as far as his injured shoulder goes, Lamb took some big hits against the Panthers, including one from former Cowboys' teammate Xavier Woods, but he noted he's fine and will continue to power through it.
Oh, and that defenses are going to have to hit him harder if they want to try and force him into to tapping out.
"You gotta come a little harder than that," he said. "Xavier Woods, yeah, I've played on his team a couple of years so I know what he's capable of, and to get hit by him, but he's gonna have to bring a little bit more."
Furthermore, Lamb passed Jarvis Landry on the NFL's all-time list of receptions through the first five seasons of a career — his 482nd pushing past that of Landry's (481) — helping the Cowboys to power past the Panthers and push to a 5-2 road record this season.
With the loss of All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott to a season-ending hamstring injury, and several other locker room leaders going down with their own ailments, the leadership of Lamb has been much-needed, and while he may not be the most vocal in the huddle, his play on the field — including his willingness to fight through an injury that is clearly painful — goes to the grit of what has become a cornerstone player for the Cowboys.
"I've always had that [leadership mentality]," said Lamb. "Offensively, the guys are looking to me as a spark. With that, I'm gonna continue to do that. I look at myself as a spark as well. Personally, I feel like I can score from anywhere on the field. I wanna be a threat every time I touch [the ball]."
A slow start to the season for Lamb has evolved into a maturation for the three-time Pro Bowler and reigning NFL receptions leader.
An already intensely bright future for Lamb is only getting brighter.
