CeeDee Lamb Says He Wants Revenge on Giants Cornerback He Blames for Shoulder Injury

CeeDee Lamb said Thursday he has more than just a prepared game plan for the New York Giants on Sunday — he has revenge on his mind.

Lamb accused Giants cornerback Dru Phillips of injuring him during a Thanksgiving tackle last season and vowed to make the second-year defensive back pay on the field. "He tackled me and hurt me, so I’ve got something for him," Lamb said. "For sure."

The Cowboys receiver suffered a right shoulder injury during the Thanksgiving game, when Phillips tackled him to the ground without the ball, causing Lamb to roll over in visible pain and leave the contest. The tackle re-aggravated a shoulder issue Lamb first sustained in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons and contributed to his season ultimately ending after Week 16.

"My shoulder is out of whack. I’m not even gonna lie to you," Lamb said after a Week 16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. "I’m just out there battling and doing what I gotta do."

Lamb entered the matchup with added motivation after a shaky Week 1, in which he had multiple drops and failed to secure a pass on the Cowboys’ final offensive snap in a 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. "Us as a team, we got to ultimately just play right," Lamb said. "Play together, make the routine plays, make the plays that come to us. I’m speaking for myself as well. The opportunity that presented itself, obviously I fell short of it a couple times and I know I’ll be prepared for that moment next time."

Sunday marks the first meeting between the Giants and Cowboys since that holiday clash. Both NFC East teams are 0-1 to start the season, and FanDuel listed Dallas as a 4.5-point favorite. Each team is aiming to avoid consecutive division losses to open the year.

Phillips, a second-year cornerback, has not publicly responded to Lamb's comments. The Cowboys, meanwhile, will look to deploy their receiving corps with Lamb as a focal point after his self-acknowledged drops and the lingering shoulder issue that sidelined him late last season.

The exchange adds another subplot to a divisional rivalry that already carries playoff implications. The Cowboys have leaned on Lamb’s production since he entered the league, and his availability and performance remain central to Dallas’ offensive expectations. The Giants, defensive personnel and strategy permitting, will try to contain him while avoiding physical plays that could again lead to injury or controversy.

Coaches on both sides typically deflect personal comments before games and emphasize execution over vendettas. Still, the specifics of Lamb’s complaint — the Thanksgiving tackle, the subsequent reinjury and his off-season repayments to his own performance after Week 1 — create a clear narrative to monitor when the teams take the field Sunday.