The 2024 season has been a disappointment for the Dallas Cowboys, but they've managed to get back on track to the tune of winning four of their last five games. The grit and fight on display by superstars CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons is a big reason for that.
Parsons has been scalding hot since returning from injury, while Lamb has still been among the most productive wide receivers in football despite battling through an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder.
Unfortunately, Lamb's injury has progressed to the point where the Cowboys have decided to rule him out for the final two games. This news comes in light of Lamb undergoing new medical scans.
The team announced that Lamb will undergo treatment and rehab for his shoulder, but he is currently not expected to require surgery. The All-Pro is expected to make a full recovery in due time.
Cowboys shut down CeeDee Lamb due to shoulder injury
Breaking:
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 26, 2024
CeeDee Lamb's shoulder injury has now progressed to the level of the #Cowboys choosing to shut him down for the remainder of the season— following a new round of medical scans.
The All-Pro gave all he could & more, but it's over. No surgery is expected as this time.
It felt inevitable this announcement was coming
Lamb has played through this injury for several weeks. He was seen in visible discomfort after hits that his shoulder took the brunt of. The 26-year-old was essentially playing with one functioning arm, and yet he recorded over 300 yards and two touchdowns in the three games leading up to getting shut down.
RELATED: Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb proves he's worth every penny by gutting through injury
With the Cowboys well out of the NFC playoff picture and having already signed a blockbuster extension, Lamb could have shut it down a month ago. But he chose to keep fighting and in doing so, set a standard for his teammates that they will be expected to play through injury (within reason, of course) even if the team doesn't have anything to play for.
That is a huge reason to be optimistic about Dallas in 2025 and beyond. In the meantime, though, they have a chance to play spoiler this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have their own injury concerns.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts still not practicing due to concussion
Hurts suffered a concussion early in last week's loss to the Commanders and did not return. The two-time Pro Bowler did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, so he is seemingly trending in the direction of not suiting up.
Eagles backup Kenny Pickett is also dinged up with a ribs injury, but he practiced in full Thursday. A 2022 first-round pick, Pickett went 14-of-24 in relief of Hurts with 143 yards and one touchdown and one interception, equating to a lowly 72.0 passer rating.
Pickett confirmed to reporters that he's good to go Sunday. It's looking increasingly likely that Dallas will face the former No. 20 overall pick.
This is a gorgeous opportunity for the Cowboys to end the Eagles' hopes of nabbing the NFC's top seed. According to Next Gen Stats' playoff probability model, Philly has a 4% chance of claiming the No. 1 seed. They need to win out and get a lot of help, so a loss to Dallas would end that push.
Even though Lamb and others won't suit up, the Cowboys will have plenty of motivation to stick it to their most hated rival one last time before the sun sets on the 2024 season.