If you weren't convinced the Dallas Cowboys are a bad football team, hopefully Sunday's 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons did the trick.
Between countless pre-snap penalties and a pair of heinous decisions on fourth down, it was Mike McCarthy worst coaching display of the season. One of those fourth down decisions featured a jet sweep to CeeDee Lamb that got blown up well behind the line of scrimmage.
The story of the game, though, is Dak Prescott's hamstring injury. Prescott will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity, but Jerry Jones' reaction coupled with Prescott gingerly walking to the locker room after the game do not bode well for the Cowboys' quarterback.
READ MORE: Jerry Jones reveals Cowboys' trade deadline plans after Dak Prescott injury.
While everyone is focused on Prescott, Lamb also got banged up in the game. He was in obvious discomfort throughout the second half after falling hard on his shoulder on a reception.
While Lamb downplayed the injury to reporters, he is dealing with an AC joint issue in his right shoulder and will join Prescott on the MRI table on Monday, per ESPN's Todd Archer.
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb's injury details make Mike McCarthy's decision more reckless
It was obvious to anyone watching that Lamb should not have continued playing. While Lamb ultimately chose to stay in the game, it is on McCarthy to save the players from themselves.
Take another look at the injury video and try telling us that Lamb shouldn't have been on the bench to close the game.
CeeDee Lamb was slow to get up after this play. pic.twitter.com/wWIutqK5WJ
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 3, 2024
The Cowboys only trailed by two touchdowns with more than five minutes left, so technically they were still alive. However, it was obvious the game was already decided. Dallas didn't score again until there was 1:28 left in regulation. Lamb even caught the two-point conversion and favored his shoulder after the play even though he wasn't hit.
It says a lot that Lamb didn't quit on his team. It was a tremendous display of leadership. His teammates can learn a thing or two from his competitive stubbornness.
Having said that, Lamb should have been pulled out. He winced and grabbed at his shoulder seemingly after every rep. He took several more hits after suffering the injury. It was coaching malpractice by McCarthy to not remove Lamb from the game.
Not only did McCarthy risk Lamb aggravating his shoulder injury, but it compromised him to other potential injuries given he was clearly compensating.
Lamb will likely push to play through the injury regardless of what the MRI reveals. Regardless, McCarthy needs to be held accountable for subjecting his superstar receiver, who so often has to carry the offense on his back, to a potentially serious injury.
It's further proof that McCarthy has lost the plot.