The Dallas Cowboys will be without their brightest star on offense for at least the start of training camp as wide receiver CeeDee Lamb seeks a contract extension.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Lamb is not expected to report to training camp on Wednesday with the rest of the team. He is in a contract year though is scheduled to make nearly $18 million.
“Sources: Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb, who has been unable to land the type of contract extension that other wide receivers have, is not expected to report to training camp Wednesday with the rest of his team. Lamb is entering the last year of a deal scheduled to pay him $17.99 million this season,” Schefter wrote.
Lamb is taking a fairly large gamble in failing to report for training camp. Each day he misses will result in tens of thousands of dollars in fines that he cannot get back.
But after the year he just had, Lamb likely feels that he’s done more than enough to enter the $20 million-plus club.
In 2023, Lamb had 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns – all career-highs – as the Cowboys went 12-5 with the league’s No. 1 scoring offense. He added another 110 receiving yards in their playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.
It’s hard to overstate just how much not having Lamb would impact the Cowboys’ offense. Between him and the recently-retired Michael Gallup, Dallas would be without two of their top four receivers from last season if Lamb decides to wait the team out.
That’s his leverage.
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