FRISCO, Texas – The Cowboys announced on Thursday that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will miss the final two games of the 2024 season to start the recovery process of his injured shoulder.
The full statement from the organization reads as follows:
"Additional examinations and scans this week on CeeDee Lamb's shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as "Out" for the remaining two games of the season.
He will undergo a process of treatment and rehabilitation for his shoulder, is not currently expected to require surgery and is projected to make a full recovery."
Lamb, who has been playing through an AC sprain in his shoulder since Week 9, will now undergo a rehabilitation process that is not expected to require surgery, and one that should lead to a full recovery.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said earlier this week that when it came to whether Lamb wanted to continue battling the pain in the Cowboys' last two games of the season, that the ball was in Lamb's court.
"We will leave it up to the player," Jones told 105.3 the Fan on Tuesday. "Obviously, we will also listen to the medical staff, but we will leave that up to [Lamb]."
Following the Sunday night victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Cowboys practice on Tuesday and had Christmas Day on Wednesday off, a slight difference from their usual schedule of being off on Tuesday and practicing Wednesday through Friday. Because of that, Thursday was a big day in determining where Lamb was at health wise.
"I think that's really what today is for, that's one of the things that we need to work through today…" McCarthy said. "We're going to need more time to sort through that."
Wednesday's DNP designation was the first for Lamb since December 5 and he's never gone back-to-back days as a non-participant. Usually, Thursday is the practice day where he'll be upgraded to limited or sometimes even become a full participant. Now, that won't be the case.
Lamb hasn't shied away from admitting he's playing while very banged up, and now gets the chance to rest and recover.
"My shoulder is out of whack. I'm not even gonna lie to you," Lamb said after the Cowboys' win over the Buccaneers on Sunday. "I'm just out there battling and doing what I gotta do."
With Lamb out the rest of the year, his teammates know how big of a loss it is and that he's already more than proven himself as a player.
"He might be the best player that I've seen with my own eyes, he just loves the game of football," Micah Parsons said. "I don't think anyone should ever question how much CeeDee brings to the team or his factor."
Parsons added that Lamb is "QB-proof," and can find a way to succeed with any quarterback getting him the ball.
"I've seen him get 1,000 (yards) with Andy Dalton. I've seen him get 1,000 with Dak Prescott. I've seen him get 1,000 with Cooper Rush." Parsons said.
"You give grace to all these other wide receivers and say they're not producing because they don't have their quarterback. CeeDee has shown time and time again that he can do it with anybody throwing him the ball."
Cooper Rush, Lamb's quarterback right now, is aware of how different things would be without his top weapon on the field. That said, he's confident in the depth in the wide receiver room going forward without him in the final two games.
"Hard to replace that kind of production, but there's guys ready, we've got guys," Rush said. "A good, deep room. Very good receiver room, a bunch of smart dudes that are chomping at the bit to go play."
In his fifth NFL season, Lamb has filled up entries into the history books, including becoming the first player in Cowboys history to record 1,000 yards in four of his first five season in the NFL. In Sunday's win over Tampa Bay, Lamb also passed Jerry Rice for the fourth-most scrimmage yards by a receiver in their first five seasons.
