CeeDee Lamb gives full support for Cowboys vs. Browns: “Yes, I’m in”

FRISCO, Texas — It appears that CeeDee Lamb is indeed “ready for battle,” as he declared shortly after signing his shiny new mega-contract with the Dallas Cowboys in late August. His warm-up period after his time off is likely over effective Thursday, as the All-Pro receiver fully participated in the team's first fully padded contact practice of Week 1.

When asked whether he was fully committed, his answer was clear.

“Yeah, I'm ready,” said the reigning NFL receptions leader. “Today was definitely one of those days and again, kudos to the guys, the coaches, who really guided me all week. Obviously, I knew I was mentally ready and physically it's a little bit of a different story, but today I was ready.”

What was it about Thursday's practice in particular that gives you confidence that he won't be judged on his pitch count in Cleveland?

“It was full contact practice with full equipment and we planned the game and incorporated different things so I was able to compete against the others,” Lamb said. “It was fun.”

He hopes to have even more fun when the Cowboys visit the Browns in Cleveland in three days, and while he knows it won't be an easy game against one of the best defenses in the entire NFL, Lamb is looking forward to it, too.

And it's safe to say he's well prepared considering the defense he faces every day in practice.

“[The Browns are] nice, man,” the three-time Pro Bowler said. “They're good all around — edge rushers, linebackers, they've got fast DBs. I know a couple of them really well. I know it's me on a personal level, so it's going to be fun out there.”

Lamb will go, as will Dak Prescott. The two have risen to the ranks of arguably the best QB-WR duo in the league, with the former setting records in 2023 while the latter finished as an All-Pro and runner-up in the MVP race behind Lamar Jackson.

It looks like Lamb has his new contract in hand, and Prescott is waiting for his. But if anyone knows how grueling the process can be, it's Lamb, who just came back from a holding pattern, and Prescott, who had to go through a long (two-year) round of negotiations the first time around.

And both know how quickly a yellow light can change to green.

“I feel like 24 hours can really change your life,” Lamb said. “That's obviously happened to me throughout the whole process that I've been through. This is Dak's second time at the table, so I know he's very familiar with it and with how Jerry works. I have no doubt they'll get it done, but he can't win a game on his own.”

Lamb himself wants to retire as a cowboy.

“I don’t think anyone in the NFL really wants to just jump around [from team to team] and no offense to those who [have]but yeah, I don't see that,” he said of his future in Dallas. “I never saw that for my future and I always wanted to be in an area, and Dallas is that area for me. I'd love to be here for another contract, and another one. You know what I mean?

“So continue to build on this legacy that has already been left to me and help carry that torch forward.”

It's time to relight the flame, and there is no shortage of expectations that can serve as fuel to keep it burning.