Holdout done, paycheck received, time for lighting the gridiron?
That is the expectation from CeeDee Lamb, but in most cases, it’s not that simple. When the player has missed a major chunk of preseason off-the-camp, the task is to get to match fitness. And it becomes a huge ask. So what is up with Lamb?

The All-Pro receiver put pen to paper, a $136 million contract extension, with $100 million guaranteed and a record-setting $38 million signing bonus. This happened amid owner Jerry Jones giving mixed signals three days prior to their first preseason game, and almost getting into trouble stating that he felt no “urgency” to get an extension worked out with the wide receiver. Lamb reacted with a “lol” response and got his backing from his QB Dak Prescott in front of a lot of reporters saying, “I got urgency for it to happen.”

To course correct what got said before, just minutes before the third and final series of preseason games against the LA Rams on Aug 11, Jones did some damage control. “Well, no one appreciates CeeDee being on the field any more than I do. But let me say this: He wouldn’t be taking a snap out here today if he’d been here for [training camp].

“You gotta use your head when you expose key players. That gives the other younger players a chance to do it. We know exactly what CeeDee can do, and he’s worked out with Dak. So we wouldn’t have him out here. It has really not anything to do with his contract.”

All rumors were put at bay once the news of the mega-deal hit the air on Aug 26, just one day prior to the team undergoing its first official practice of camp. But here’s the thing, Lamb wasn’t exactly resting during his holdout. Rather, he was keeping fit; just not with his fellow Cowboys. Moreover, the Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has some crucial updates for the Cowboys Nation ahead of the Browns game on Sunday. And it might lift the moods of many.

Coach McCarthy was not direct but said, “Where he needs to be? I’m impressed with where he is. You can tell where his commitment was this offseason. He’s bigger, stronger. We have a number we want him to hit each day. I’m confident he’ll be where we need to be by the end of this week.”

He stayed sharp with solo workouts in Houston. And now the team is easing him back into the mix for more team reps. But he needs to be activated since he’s on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. In this case, Roger Goodell’s. Does that mean he’s out of the 53-man roster?

No. The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero explained it well via his X post on August 28.

Not just that, he also got the Cowboys Nation celebrating with some positive news ahead of the Week 1 clash: “The Cowboys were granted a two-game roster exemption for WR CeeDee Lamb, who returned to practice today.” Now, don’t go calling the plays just yet, because Pelissero also made it clear that this doesn’t mean CeeDee will be sidelined for the first two games. Essentially, Lamb is in a holding pattern, meaning he won’t count against the 53-man roster until the team decides otherwise. And that could be sooner than you think.

So, what’s the deal with this exempt list? Think of it like a timeout box in a game of football. You’re off the field, but not entirely out of the game. Players on this list don’t count against the roster, but they can still hit the playbook, attend meetings, work out, and get treatment. Basically, Lamb’s hanging in the locker room, waiting for the green light.

Only Goodell can place a player on the Exempt List. So the teams have no control over his decision, which means a player’s inclusion on the list is not guaranteed. So, will Lamb suit up in Week 1? Only time will tell. Keeping any unforeseen changes aside, it does look like Lamb will be suiting up Week 1. After all, he has been itching to get back on the field.

Can CeeDee Lamb take the Cowboys to the playoffs?

You don’t bench a player like CeeDee Lamb. Even if it’s just the opener, momentum is key, and having Lamb on the gridiron means your hope stays alive. NFL analyst Albert Breer is backing Lamb to do more than just show up—he believes Lamb is set for a record-breaking 2024 season.

He predicted that Lamb would “become the first receiver in NFL history to top 2,000 yards in a season.” This would also mean that he would be breaking Calvin Johnson’s all-time record of 1,964 yards. You might call him mad. But there’s a method to his madness. See, the thing is Lamb racked up 1,749 yards last year with limited help around him.

He thrived under pressure. Proving he is capable of being Dallas’ top playmaker. A go-to guy, if you may. So, Breer isn’t just throwing a Hail Mary here—he’s making a calculated bet that is as solid as it gets. But here’s the twist!

Despite Lamb’s potential record-breaking season, Breer predicted that the Cowboys would miss the playoffs. Ouch! That stings.

If you are a Cowboys fan, just take it with a pinch of salt. But what do you think? Does the America’s Team have the corps outside of Lamb’s brilliance to reach the playoffs? Let us know!