CeeDee Lamb Says He 'Didn't Get Any Rest' After Drop-Filled Opener
Cowboys receiver accepts responsibility for four drops in Week 1 loss to Eagles, posts private practice footage and vows to return stronger
CeeDee Lamb said he had an "awful weekend" after a Week 1 performance in which he dropped several passes, including two late in the Dallas Cowboys' 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The All-Pro wide receiver acknowledged the drops cost him sleep and said Thursday that he is taking full responsibility for the miscues. "I didn't get any rest really that whole weekend," Lamb said. "Again, that's the competitor that I am and how much I'm true to the game as far as being honest and just giving it everything I got because I do love this game, I love this squad, and I love the guys that I do it with."
Lamb, 26, finished the game with 110 receiving yards on seven catches from 13 targets but had four drops overall. Two of those drops came in the fourth quarter and factored directly into the Cowboys turning the ball over on downs at midfield during their final drive. After the game he said he would be "definitely gonna look at this film and dread every drop," adding, "I'm not pointing no fingers at nobody else. I take full accountability and everything that's gonna come with it."
Asked about the two late drops, Lamb said the missed opportunities "stings a little bit" because he prays for and prepares for game moments where the ball comes his way. He vowed to respond with increased effort. "But I will tell you, if you think I'm not coming back any times harder than this, you've got another thing coming," he said.
Footage surfaced of Lamb working on catching with a JUGS machine the day after the loss, a clip Lamb said was meant to be private. "That wasn't supposed to go viral. I wasn't doing that for no internet, to be honest," he said, explaining he came into the building when no one else was there and later discovered a camera had captured the session. "As for me bro, it's going back to my fundamentals. I know what it is. I know what to do. Again, it's Game 1, we got 16 more of these."
Lamb's comments came during a Thursday availability following a season-opening loss in which the Cowboys fell short in a rematch of a recent playoff rivalry. The drops drew attention because of their timing and because Lamb is one of Dallas' primary offensive weapons; his receiving total still led the team despite the miscues.
The Cowboys opened their regular season with questions about finishing drives and converting scoring chances. Lamb's public acknowledgement of the mistakes and the subsequent footage of him working in the team facility underscore an immediate focus on correction. Teammates and coaches generally emphasize accountability and repetition after visible errors, and Lamb framed his response in those terms.
Lamb's statement that he will study the film and return to fundamentals reflects a routine approach to overcoming in-game failures. He and the Cowboys have 16 regular-season games ahead to adjust routes, technique and situational execution, and the team will face scrutiny in both coaching decisions and player performance as it seeks to improve after the opener.
Lamb's willingness to accept blame and the visible extra work in the immediate aftermath provide a clear message about his intent to respond to the Week 1 setback. He emphasized that the season is long and that he intends to apply corrective work rather than dwell on the opener.
"I can't point no fingers at nobody else," he said. "For me, as a player, I pray for moments like that and the ball to come my way, and, obviously, for me to not come up with it, it stings a little bit."