The Dallas Cowboys expect All-Pro offensive tackle Tyron Smith to return on Thanksgiving but the status of star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is up in the air.
Lamb is in the concussion protocol after leaving Sunday’s game in Kansas City with a head injury. NFL Network reported it’s unlikely Lamb can clear protocol by Thursday, but Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones was more optimistic.
“He’ll start his protocol right away,” Jones told Dallas station 105.3 The Fan on Monday. “Then, he’s doing really well. So, he’ll have an opportunity to play. If he were having issues today, then you’d probably be a little leery, but the fact that so far he’s doing well. But he’ll have to go through testing. So, we won’t really know that until Thursday.”
Lamb was injured late in the first half of the Cowboys’ 19-9 loss to the Chiefs on a jump ball in the end zone. Lamb had three catches for 14 yards. The 2020 first-round pick has 50 catches for 740 yards and six touchdowns on the season.
The Cowboys are already without perennial Pro Bowl WR Amari Cooper, who landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list last Friday. The unvaccinated Cooper tested positive and has to quarantine a mandatory 10 days.
“That’s my teammate, that’s my brother, we’re going to support him. That’s his decision,” quarterback Dak Prescott said of Cooper after Sunday’s loss. “Unfortunate we’re not having him, but I know he’ll come back and be beneficial for us in the late part of the season.”
Smith has missed the past three games with an ankle injury. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection has started all 140 games played during his 11 NFL seasons.
The Cowboys (7-3) host the Las Vegas Raiders (5-5) on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.
–Field Level Media