CeeDee Lamb makes his stance as Cowboys' top receiver, former first-round pick clear

The Dallas Cowboys finally gave CeeDee Lamb the opportunity to shine last week against the Chargers. Lamb, a 2022 Pro Bowler, posted 117 yards on seven receptions in Week 6. It brings his 2023 total up to 34 catches, 475 yards and one touchdown.

Despite making his frustrations about his usage clear to the media prior to that performance, Lamb wants people to know he’s not being a diva. The former Sooner believes the Cowboys drafted him in the first round for a reason, and it wasn’t to get four or five targets a game.

“I have to make it clear, I’m not stingy,” Lamb said on Thursday after practice. “I’m here to help. I don’t necessarily think you take anyone in the first round and not have them help the team. That’s point-blank period. Just let me do what I can do to provide for this team. I know all my brothers in the locker room know I got their back. And I say that confidently.”

Lamb also advocated for his fellow receivers to get the ball more, which will, in turn, open up the run game for Tony Pollard and the other running backs.

As he continues contract negotiations with his agents and the Cowboys front office, it’s as important as ever for the wideout to show his worth on the stat sheet.

Cowboys find Lamb, Cooks in Week 6 win

After a few frustrating weeks for the Cowboys’ top receivers, Lamb and Brandin Cooks finally got a chance to shine against the Chargers on Monday Night Football. Lamb broke 100 receiving yards for the second time this season while Cooks snagged his first touchdown as a Cowboy as Dallas took down L.A. 20-17.

“That was part of the plan,” Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said. “I talked about what was part of the plan going into this game, knowing that we’d get some matchups with those guys, understanding how they’re going to play CeeDee, clouding his side, when they were going to give in to Cooks outside some one-on-ones, and we took advantage of them.”

A lot has been made of the Cowboys’ inability to utilize Brandin Cooks after they acquired him from the Texans in the offseason. The veteran with six 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his career, had four catches for a season-high 36 yards on Monday night.

His touchdown was also Cooks’ first of the season and gave Dallas a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“It was a great throw and a throw also that [Prescott] put trust in me to go out there and go make,” Cooks said. “I’m just thankful for the opportunity and coming up with the big play to show he can continue to trust me.”

Of the Cowboys’ top three receivers, Michael Gallup is struggling the most so far this year. Though he has the second-most receiving yards with 204 yards, he has yet to score and he has just 18 catches on 32 targets.