CeeDee Lamb pays compliment to Caleb Williams after strong preseason showing

While it’s probably going to end up being a forgettable Instagram story, it’s still not a sight Dallas Cowboys fans likely love: Star wideout CeeDee Lamb offering public praise for Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Especially amidst a contract stalemate.

And ahead of the Cowboys latest preseason contest on Saturday night, Lamb was apparently watching Williams in his second bit of preseason action for the Bears. The Cowboys star was evidently impressed by what he saw.

“Love it youngin,” Lamb said, plus a handshake emoji over a picture of Williams on the bench after a series. He also tagged Williams.

#Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb on Instagram: pic.twitter.com/JPJEm612DH

— Chicago Bears Updates (@chbearsupdates) August 17, 2024

Lamb and Williams both attended Oklahoma to play college football, though Williams transferred and finished his career at USC.

Though Lamb is under contract with the Cowboys through the 2024 season, playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal if he and the franchise don’t agree to a contract extension. And absent an extension, Lamb will be a free agent come next offseason. He is currently holding out to get a new deal.

On top of Lamb, the Cowboys are also trying to land the plane on a new deal for quarterback Dak Prescott, which likely takes precedence over Lamb, both in terms of roster construction and lowering Prescott’s cap hit.

More on Lamb’s contract situation

Lamb continues his holdout during contract talks, and there’s still plenty of work to do. The star wide receiver and the Dallas Cowboys are “not close,” according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill.

The Cowboys’ best offer was just just south of $33 million per year, Hill reported, which would be $2 million less than Justin Jefferson is making as the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. This latest update comes as Dallas continues preparations for its second preseason game of the year against the Las Vegas Raiders later this week.

Lamb’s contract is just one of the storylines for the Cowboys through training camp as Dak Prescott looks at potential free agency. But the talks with Lamb could impact this coming season if his holdout continues, and franchise legend Emmitt Smith called them “unacceptable” so far.

“Without (Lamb) on the football field, they’re putting all the pressure on Dak Prescott now and that is unacceptable because everybody of his caliber should have quality people to throw the ball to,” Smith said on the Blogging with the Boys podcast. “Not no Plan B, Plan C, Plan D guy. He should be in a position, as your franchise quarterback, to be successful.

“Right now, you’re putting him behind the eight ball and that is not right. That’s how I see it.”