FRISCO, Texas — CeeDee Lamb‘s season is over with two games to play in the Dallas Cowboys‘ season.
Lamb, who’s dealt with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder since a Nov. 3 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, aggravating it almost weekly, had more exams and scans this week that showed the injury had worsened. With the Cowboys officially eliminated from the playoffs, the Cowboys made the decision to sit their No. 1 wide receiver.
In a statement, the team said he is not expected to need surgery and should make a full recovery through a “process of treatment and rehabilitation.”
Lamb becomes the Cowboys’ fifth Pro Bowler to have his season end early because of injury, joining quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring), right guard Zack Martin (ankle), defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee).
Pro Bowl cornerback DaRon Bland spent the first 10 games of the season on injured reserve before returning from surgery on his left foot Nov. 24. Pro Bowl pass rusher Micah Parsons missed four games earlier in the year with a high ankle sprain but did not go to IR.
Lamb, who signed a four-year, $136 million extension in August that made him the second-highest-paid receiver in the NFL (behind Justin Jefferson), is second in the NFL in receptions with 101 and third in yards with 1,194, despite playing the last seven games with backup quarterback Cooper Rush after Prescott’s injury.
Lamb has posted back-to-back 100-yard games against the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reaching triple figures in the first half of both. After a 52-yard reception in the second quarter last week against the Buccaneers in which he landed on his shoulder, Lamb’s snaps were limited in the second half.
The Cowboys altered their practice schedule this week because of Christmas. Thursday was their first full workout of the week leading into Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Replacing Lamb will be difficult. Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert will be their top two wide receivers with Jonathan Mingo, Ryan Flournoy and Jalen Brooks on the 53-man roster. The Cowboys could elevate Jalen Cropper or Kelvin Harmon from the practice squad.
Lamb became just the third player in NFL history with 100 receptions in three of his first five seasons, joining Michael Thomas and Brandon Marshall. Only Thomas (510) has more receptions in a player’s first five seasons than Lamb’s 496.