NFL will not fine Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb for collision with referee

According to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, the NFL will not fine Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb after an official ran into him during a preseason game. Watkins says if the moment occurred during the regular season, the scenario might be different. But Lamb will escape losing any money.

“FYI The NFL will not fine CeeDee Lamb for interfering with an official,” Watkins said via X. “Last week the side judge ran into Lamb while covering a pass play. Normally when a player not in the game bumps into an official it’s a fine. Not this time.”

During the game, the Cowboys were hit with a 15-yard penalty due to Lamb’s actions. He was getting ahead of a deep pass thrown by Joe Milton, believing he would connect for a long play. Lamb kept his head down and an official came crashing into him.

“It’s a sideline interference,” referee Alex Moore said after the game. “CeeDee Lamb was standing in the restricted white border area, which is our area to officiate the game. The official on the play was focused solely on doing his job and he ran into CeeDee Lamb, who was standing in that restricted area. That’s what happened. And with that contact, it’s an automatic foul.

“It’s more of a rare situation… Normally we don’t have anybody standing that deep into the restricted area, or that type of forceful contact. So, it is a rare occurrence, but it does happen from time to time.”

Clearly, Lamb isn’t used to watching games from the sidelines. In four of his five NFL seasons, Lamb has recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards. In the 2024 campaign, Lamb tallied 1,194 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

More of the same is expected from him once the regular season begins. A healthy Dak Prescott will certainly help — hoping to have his quarterback on the field for all 17 games. Getting a new partner in crime in George Pickens will be a new dynamic to the Cowboys offense as well. Fun times appear to be ahead under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

For now, Lamb will have to work on his sideline positioning. Dallas is set for another preseason game on Saturday night, facing off against the Baltimore Ravens. This is all leading up to Sept. 4, when the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles takes place.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report