Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is dealing with a quadriceps bruise that is not expected to sideline him for an extended period after Thursday night’s loss.
The issue surfaced in the fourth quarter of a 24-16 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. Lamb moved in and out of the lineup and remained on the field for the team’s failed two-point conversion attempt.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport described the injury in detail.
“CeeDee Lamb was not able to finish the game for the Dallas Cowboys (and) was in and out of the lineup. Believe he was on the field for the failed two-point conversion. He’s dealing with a quad injury. My understanding is it is a quad bruise, not considered to be serious, but something that he has had before. So essentially got hit in the same spot in his quad and was not able to (continue playing). You could have saw him on the sideline grimacing. Do not expect this to be a long-term injury,” Rapoport said.
Lamb caught two passes for nine yards on five targets before the discomfort limited him.
The production stood in contrast to his previous game. Four days earlier against the Houston Texans, he recorded 17 receptions for 189 yards and a touchdown.
Through five games this season, Lamb leads the NFL with 39 catches, 507 receiving yards and 51 targets. He also has four touchdown receptions.
He had been listed with a thigh injury on the practice report leading into the Buccaneers game after absorbing a hit in the same area against Houston. He was a full participant in practice and started Thursday.
Video showed him walking gingerly and grimacing on the sideline after additional snaps. He was not available for Dallas’ final offensive series.
The Cowboys face a longer recovery window than a typical midweek turnaround. Their next game is Sunday, Oct. 18, against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football at Lambeau Field.
No official timetable has been released by the team. Early indications from league sources point to Lamb being available for that contest if the bruise responds as expected.
Left tackle Tyler Guyton left the same game with a back injury. X-rays taken at the stadium were negative, and he was scheduled for additional testing Friday.
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. did not play because of an illness. Safety Alijah Clark was also slowed by a hamstring issue.
The result dropped Dallas to 2-3. Tampa Bay improved to 1-4 and secured its first victory of the season.
Quarterback Dak Prescott addressed the outcome afterward.
“But, we were definitely supposed to win this game, that we’re supposed to have on paper or whichever way you want to look at it. I think Schotty said it best in the locker room, in this league, you’ve got to win the games you’re supposed to win. When a winless team comes into your home stadium on a Thursday night primetime game, yeah, we’re supposed to win that. It sucks and right up there close to embarrassing, but I don’t know if I would say that,” Prescott said.
Dallas scored its only touchdown after the opening scripted drive on a 17-yard catch by George Pickens during a late 99-yard possession. The subsequent two-point try failed.
Bucky Irving rushed for 145 yards for Tampa Bay. Dak Prescott threw for 316 yards, but the offense stalled for long stretches once Lamb’s snaps decreased.
Lamb, 27, has missed limited time across his career, though lower-body issues have cropped up in recent seasons. The extra days before the Packers game give trainers time to manage the bruise.
Practice participation next week will provide the clearest picture of his readiness.
