Two wins in a row are still two wins, and for the Cowboys, a 27-20 Thanksgiving victory over the Giants—following a miraculous escape in Washington—offers some relief in what’s been a grueling season. While the wins may not be dazzling given the circumstances, dwelling on that seems unnecessary.
At 5-7, Dallas finds itself with slim playoff hopes. The Athletic’s postseason odds tracker pegs their chances at just 1%, slightly better than the less-than-1% they had last week. Progress, however small.
But injuries continue to plague this team. With quarterback Dak Prescott sidelined for the year due to a hamstring injury, the Cowboys have turned to Cooper Rush to lead the charge. Now, they face another pressing concern: wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Cowboys Battle Familiar Injury Woes
Lamb entered the Week 12 matchup against the Giants already nursing an AC joint injury in his shoulder from the Week 9 loss to the Falcons. Unfortunately, according to coach Mike McCarthy, he aggravated the injury during the Giants game.
Limited to just two catches for 39 yards—both in the first half—Lamb saw minimal action in the second half before sitting out most of the third and all of the fourth quarters. Fortunately for Dallas, they carried a comfortable 27-10 lead into the final period.
“CeeDee had a shoulder injury. That’s why he didn’t go back in,” McCarthy explained.
The Cowboys dealt with multiple injuries during the game, but McCarthy struck a hopeful tone in his postgame remarks. “Hopefully some good health here. And hopefully the guys who were injured today, we’ll get good news on them moving forward quickly,” he said.
CeeDee Lamb Determined to Push Through
This season has been a challenging one for Lamb. With 79 catches for 880 yards so far, his numbers are respectable but well below his usual standards. His 73.3 receiving yards per game pale in comparison to the 102.9 yards he averaged last season.
The shoulder injury is just one of many obstacles for Lamb in 2024. After holding out of training camp and preseason in pursuit of a new contract—eventually signing a four-year, $136 million deal—Lamb has struggled to stay in peak form all year.
“I’m banged up, I ain’t even going to lie to you,” Lamb said Tuesday, via CBS Sports. “It is what it is, bro. It’s that time of the year in the season. I ain’t going to get [into] any specifics, but we straight. As far as for me, the pride is unbelievable. I’m willing to do whatever to go out there and have my presence felt. …
“With me being out there, I feel like the guys are more comfortable, and they’re able to play as confident and as fast as they want, knowing they get the looks that they want. I’m all for the team winning, if you can’t tell by now. … This is definitely one of the toughest years for me body-wise, but that ain’t stopping nothing. That’s for sure.”
