The Dallas Cowboys spread hope in every which way imaginable this past week, trying as they often do to will things they want into existence. It rarely works, and it didn’t this time either. Wideout CeeDee Lamb suffered a concussion at the end of the first half against Kansas City on Sunday, crashing the back of his head into the ground on an underthrown Dak Prescott pass that was intercepted by Chavarius Ward.
Lamb, who leads the club in targets (77), receptions (50) and his career-high six receiving scores, never returned to action after halftime and went through the concussion protocol. He cleared everything but the final examination with an independent neurologist and has been ruled out of Thursday’s contest with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer.
CeeDee Lamb did not clear the concussion protocol and is OUT today per @JayGlazer pic.twitter.com/LNjEpZ8kiK
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 25, 2021
This of course compounds the problem as Dallas’ offense is already without WR Amari Cooper, missing his second consecutive game on the COVID reserve list. The offense did not have a great game last week even before Lamb was lost and it seemed in part to the additional focus Chiefs defenders were able to pay everyone else with no Cooper. Now the Raiders have neither of the top two wideouts to contend with.
That puts a lot of pressure on Michael Gallup, TE Dalton Schultz and the reserve receivers to step up in the contest. Cedrick Wilson and Noah Brown each dropped two passes last week and the club failed to integrate Malik Turner into the contest until late. Dallas may also be wise to give Tony Pollard a bigger role as one of the quickest, shiftiest players on the team.
Ezekiel Elliott has been hobbled with a knee issue for several weeks though he continues to tough it out and show up every week.
Prescott will have his work cut out for him in trying to solve the Raiders defense and avoid a third loss in four games for a team that started the season winning seven of eight.
Dallas will welcome back Tyron Smith for the first time in four games, but playing without their top two wideouts along with their top two edge rushers in DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory makes for very tough going.
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