The next time CeeDee Lamb sees his Dallas Cowboys teammates, it'll be following an extended absence from training camp while the star wide receiver negotiated a new contract.
It'll also be with the 25-year-old set to operate under a new four-year, $136 million deal that the two sides agreed to less than two weeks before the team's opener.
While missing training camp is never ideal, Lamb's connection with quarterback Dak Prescott shouldn't be a significant cause for concern. For Lamb, it'll likely come down to getting ready for game action and jumping back into the flow of things with his teammates, which is also what head coach Mike McCarthy expects.
As The Athletic's Jon Machota revealed, McCarthy didn't seem too concerned about getting Lamb back into the flow of things, nor did he anticipate having to make many adjustments. McCarthy's primary focus is simply to be smart about the star wideout's return.
“I think No. 1, it was just great to get the contract in place and obviously have him back,” McCarthy said. “The schedule that we have for the week really fits into a ramp-up mode. I don’t feel like we have to do a whole lot of adjusting, but obviously we’re going to have a plan for him. … We do have to be smart with him, and that’s our plan.”
Over the first four years of Lamb's NFL career, he's progressed and improved statistically across the board, culminating in two years from 2022 to 2023 in which he caught 242 passes for 3,108 yards and 21 touchdowns. It may take Lamb some time to get back into it, but what he's done with Prescott throughout his career should ease concerns about any rust.
Expect Lamb to be full-go by the Cowboys' opener against the Cleveland Browns.
