CeeDee Lamb is back in action this offseason — but it’s taken every bit of five grueling months to get there. After playing through a painful AC joint injury for most of the 2024 season, the Dallas Cowboys star wideout is finally recovering, and his latest update couldn’t be more honest.
Lamb didn’t just fight through one setback — he dealt with multiple flare-ups before his season ended in Week 16. Now, with his health trending in the right direction and his contract locked in, Lamb is focused on what’s ahead.
How Serious Was CeeDee Lamb’s Shoulder Injury?
The pain started in Week 9 against Atlanta. Lamb injured his right shoulder — specifically the AC joint — and never really got a break after that.
He aggravated it again on Thanksgiving Day against the Giants. And then, in a Week 16 clash vs. the Buccaneers, it became too much. His season was over.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Lamb didn’t sugarcoat what the recovery looked like:
“The longest [rehab]. I want to say a good five months of real recovery and rehab. I don’t know. I’m grateful to have two arms. I can tell you that.”
That quote alone says everything about how brutal the injury and rehab process were.
Lamb’s Return Comes With a New Mindset
Now 100% focused on 2025, Lamb is back with the Cowboys for the voluntary offseason program — a major shift from last year. In 2024, he stayed away from team activities until he signed his four-year, $136 million deal, just 12 days before Week 1.
This year, it’s different.
“The last time I had OTAs and training camp was 2023,” Lamb said, noting how much he missed while negotiating.
That 2023 season, of course, was his best yet. He posted career highs in catches (135), receiving yards (1,749), and touchdowns (12), earning First-Team All-Pro honors and cementing his status as one of the NFL’s elite wideouts.
What’s Next for Dallas and Their No. 1 WR?
With a full offseason to train and a cleared medical sheet, Lamb is poised to return as the focal point of Dallas’ offense. The Cowboys are counting on him to lead a unit that stalled late last season, and Lamb knows the pressure that comes along with being the face of Jerry Jones’ receiving corps.
For now, though, he’s just happy to be back on the field — with both arms fully functioning.
And after the season he just endured, that’s not something he’s taking for granted.