Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver Ceedee Lamb With Whirlwind Preseason Game
CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas Cowboys’ star wide receiver and generally unbothered offensive juggernaut, had what can only be described as the sweetest preseason “welcome to football” moment without even being in uniform. Forget the Rams-Cowboys final preseason score for a second (okay fine, Rams won 31-21). The real headline? Lamb eating a hit from a sprinting referee. Yes, you read that right.
For context, Lamb was on the white paint of that restricted sideline area when Quarterback Joe Milton III launched a deep ball to Jonathan Mingo. Like any self-respecting player who enjoys the dramatic build-up of a big play, he gestured with celebration. Enter stage left: a sideline official hurtling directly into him at full speed, presumably so focused on officiating duties that he didn’t notice the Pro Bowler in his lane.
And just like that, down went Lamb. The sideline referee basically came out as the preseason’s most aggressive defensive player, accidentally, of course.
Wait, Lamb Got Penalized for What?
Now, you’re probably thinking, “Wasn’t this accidental? Surely, no harm, no foul, right?” WRONG. Because when does the NFL not make things weirdly complicated? Lamb got hit so hard… by a ref… that it somehow led to a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Cowboys. Because of course, player-meets-official collisions are the ultimate “football no-no.” Standing in the cursed “restricted white border area” while minding your business is big-league taboo. Who knew?
According to the referee, Alex Moore, “It’s a sideline interference. That white area is for officials to officiate the game safely. Lamb was in that restricted area, making it an automatic foul.” Here comes the kicker. The play initially netted Dallas a 51-yard pass interference call. However, thanks to Lamb’s unsportsmanlike “hit-by-ref” cameo, they ended up spotting the ball back at the 38-yard line and begrudgingly settled for a field goal.
The Bright Side
Thankfully, Lamb took it in stride, laughing it off with teammates. “I seen him walking so I think he’s pretty fine,” Milton said, referring to the official who unintentionally flattened Dallas’ WR1. Great to hear, Milton, but next time, maybe keep your star wideout safe on your sideline? He will likely avoid preseason appearances altogether moving forward, seeing as Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer has made it abundantly clear that starters don’t need the extra risk.
Penalties Everywhere
Coach Schottenheimer didn’t hold back postgame. The Cowboys were flagged 11 times for a chunky total of 83 yards, including Lamb’s bizarre brush with officiating karma. “You can’t give penalties away like that in this league,” Schottenheimer remarked. “CeeDee knows better. We all know better.”
Will the Receiver Bounce Back?
Rest assured, Cowboys fans, this awkward preseason anomaly will not ruffle Lamb’s feathers too much. He has four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons under his belt. He has proven time and again that drawn penalties, even the accidental kind, will not stop him from being Dallas’ primary offensive weapon.
