Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Giants.
The Dallas Cowboys are set to return to primetime on Sunday night as they head to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in a crucial game for both struggling squads.
Currently, the Cowboys have a record of 3-3 and are coming off a 47-9 loss to the Lions in Week 6. The 49ers, with a record of 3-4, are also looking to bounce back after losing at home to the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday.
The Cowboys have received significant criticism this season, including remarks from their former quarterback, Hall of Famer Troy Aikman. The three-time Super Bowl champion recently expressed doubts about the team’s wide receivers, suggesting they can be lazy and often fail to run effective routes.
I believe they run poor routes, Aikman stated earlier this month. “I’ve felt this way for more than just this year. CeeDee (Lamb) needs to work on his route running. As a quarterback, it’s challenging to perform when you can’t consistently predict where your receivers will be. What I observe are players who seem lethargic off the line of scrimmage. They may run at times, but usually only if they expect to receive the ball on that play; if not, their effort drops. It all connects, and I’m not impressed by that aspect.”
In an interview with NBC’s Jason Garrett set to air Sunday night, Lamb offered a poised response:
As a leader, I take this to heart, Lamb commented. “You have to put in the effort. I see it as a foundation for growth. If you label those out routes as lazy, let’s show up every week and I’ll demonstrate my route running. Personally, I view this as constructive feedback. You can’t take everything personally in our line of work.
Especially when it comes to things we can control. If it’s within our grasp, let’s put in the work and strive for improvement. For me, I’m dedicated and a hard worker. So, if you suggest I’m not putting in the effort, I’ll show you that I am.”
Fans of the Cowboys are optimistic that Lamb and his teammates will be prepared to perform after the bye week.