Cowboys 2025 training camp Day 9: CeeDee Lamb shows off

Cowboys training camp practice has a familiar star

On a day when everyone was focused on off-the-field matters, CeeDee Lamb did his best to provide a more pleasant distraction. The Cowboys’ star receiver had a standout day at training camp amidst the turmoil of Micah Parsons’ trade demand and ongoing contract feud with Dallas’ front office.

Cowboys fans are struggling right now for things they can trust about the team. Beyond the Parsons debacle, there are numerous injuries at key positions like offensive line and cornerback. Several players enter 2025 needing to reclaim former glory, with none more critical than QB Dak Prescott. And of course there’s Brian Schottenheimer, who so far has only shown that he’d make a really awesome camp counselor. Starving for proof about who this team really is, we’re still over a month away from any regular-season pudding.

One of the few elements of the organization that we’re already one hundred with is Lamb. He set new single-season highs for Cowboys receivers in receptions and yards in 2023, not even needing that 17th game to do it. He enters 2025 needing just 36 catches to pass Dez Bryant for third on the all-time Cowboys list. With 1,121 receiving yards, Lamb moves past Bryant and Bob Hayes for fifth on that career list. Whether in team history or among his current NFL peers, Lamb has clearly established himself as one of the best.

Even in training camp, Lamb’s greatness shines. Saturday was no exception, offering several moments that showed Dallas’ WR1 is ready to resume his elite work.

Without question, the Cowboys need Lamb to be as good as he’s ever been in 2025. Prescott needs him if he’s going to get back to 2023 MVP candidate form. George Pickens needs him to take pressure off as he builds his rapport with a new QB and offense. Jake Ferguson needs him to get more opportunities and mismatches. The run game, which we still have nothing but questions about, needs him to keep defenders out of the box. The defense, even with Parsons, needs him to help keep the scoreboard, field position, and time-of-possession balanced.

Beyond what Dallas needs from Lamb on the field, they need him to be a leader. He earned massive respect last year for gutting out much of 2024 with a shoulder injury. Whether that, or just time and accolades, fuel his confidence and credibility now is up to the observer, but it’s been clear that Lamb’s approaching this season with a new sense of power about his voice on the roster.

We saw that on Friday when Lamb posted his support for Parsons on social media.

More often than not, teammates don’t get involved in each other’s personal or contract-related business. But Lamb not only went to bat for a fellow superstar on the other side of the ball, but he even took a shot at his own employer. While it’s also reflective of this new era of players being able to get their thoughts into the ethos through social media, it shows us that Lamb is clearly invested in what’s best for the team.

In all these ways, CeeDee Lamb has become vital to the Cowboys’ success. And so far in Oxnard, he’s proving up to the task. We may go into September with a lot of questions and even doubts about how Dallas will fare, but at this rate, Lamb won’t be among them.