Mike McCarthy: Cowboys will have 'healthy plan' if CeeDee Lamb does not play Week 1
Just two weeks separate Saturday’s third and final preseason game and the opener against the Cleveland Browns for the Dallas Cowboys. To this point, there has been no sign of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb amid contract discussions with the team. Dallas has been without their star wide receiver all training camp and questions about his Week 1 availability are beginning to be asked.
Head coach Mike McCarthy says the Cowboys will have a “healthy plan” if Lamb does not play Week 1. Being without the NFL’s top pass catcher from a year ago would be a brutal blow for Dak Prescott and the entire offense. But at this point, McCarthy and his coaching staff are preparing for all options.
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“You got to have a healthy plan,” McCarthy said via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “Yeah, definitely. We’ve got to be smart there and just use good judgment. And that’ll be the case. But yeah, I think it’s just the reality of where we are. So, we’ll deal with it one day at a time.”
Lamb led the league in catches in 2023, having 135. Career highs were recorded across the board, adding 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. Incredible numbers to have heading into a contract negotiation but to this point, no agreement has been met.
Jerry Jones has previously said there is “no urgency” to get a deal done. That statement was said before the first preseason game and a few weeks later, Jones’ words have turned out to be true.
Prescott disagreed with Jones’ comments at the time and now, McCarthy stated he believes both sides are ready to end the holdout and get Lamb back with the team.
“I think there’s urgency on both sides,” McCarthy said. “Just once again, I mean, this is business. What goes on there is really between the individuals in the room. But yes, I think everybody involved wants to get it done.”
If Lamb does decide to hold out in the regular season, giving up game checks would be a lot of money coming out of his pocket. On the field, Dallas would turn to Brandin Cooks as the No. 1 wide receiver, a role he’s occupied all of training camp without Lamb being present.