It’s bad enough that Pro Bowl QB Dak Prescott has been sidelined for the last seven games and will miss the next two, totaling nine missed games.
It’s also tough that Pro Bowl DE DeMarcus Lawrence has been absent for the last 11 games and is likely out for the next two, bringing his total to 13.
Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin has struggled with an ankle injury for weeks, missing the past five games and the next two after surgery, for a total of seven missed games.
Additionally, two-time Pro Bowl CB Trevon Diggs has missed four of the last five games and will also sit out the final two, resulting in a total of six games not played.
Pro Bowl CB DaRon Bland missed the first 10 games of the season but has played in the last five, health permitting, he aims to participate in the next two. This means that six out of the ten highest-paid players on the Dallas Cowboys have missed a significant number of games.
As if that wasn’t enough, now Pro Bowl WR CeeDee Lamb is out for the season, marking the seventh player from the top ten salaries who will miss time. The Cowboys announced that Lamb, who ranks second in the NFL with 101 receptions, third in receiving yards with 1,194, and co-leads the team with six touchdowns, will not play in the final two games. Seriously?
It’s been advised not to ponder “what’s next” for this difficult 2024 season, especially as the team (7-8) heads into Sunday’s game against Philadelphia (13-2) needing to win the last two games (Washington in Week 17) to secure a winning record, with further setbacks looming (e.g., backup cornerback Amani Oruwariye is out with a foot injury for Sunday).
We know CeeDee has been battling through a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder for the last seven games, still making 48 catches for 534 yards during that span. He often required a moment to recover after being tackled but pushed through for the team’s benefit.
Lamb excelled in the previous game, pulling in seven passes for 105 yards against Tampa Bay, but with his pain increasing and the Cowboys now out of playoff contention, it was a sensible decision this week to rest him.
“CeeDee is a true warrior,” says OC Brian Shottenheimer.
“He’s been remarkable facing challenges week after week,” remarks head coach Mike McCarthy.
What’s noteworthy is that while CeeDee is not alone in his struggle, the team has shown resilience despite their rough start.
Take Jourdan Lewis, the nickel corner dealing with a ligament issue in his elbow. He has been using a brace for the past two weeks; if he were a pitcher, he would be out for the season, but he’s determined to play and doesn’t anticipate needing surgery this off-season, even despite being listed as questionable for Sunday.
Veteran middle linebacker Eric Kendricks has been managing a calf injury for about a month. Despite not practicing during the week, he has consistently performed at a Pro Bowl level, achieving double-digit tackles in four out of five games before ultimately admitting he couldn’t play on Sunday.
“That’s the NFL,” Kendricks remarks about players dealing with injuries. “It’s the same for many players across the league,” he adds, seemingly dismissing any notion of heroism. “I made that decision a long time ago. My late dad asked me, ‘Are you sure you want to play that sport?’”