WFAA Dallas Cowboys insider Ed Werder reported on Monday that Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a high ankle sprain. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport later reported that the All-Pro wideout will not be placed on injured reserve and will sit out for at least the next two games before being considered as week-to-week by the team.
Lamb sustained the injury during opening drive of Dallas’ eventual 31-14 blowout loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. After heading to the blue medical tent, he re-entered the game for one play, but came up limping and was shut down for the rest of the afternoon. The veteran wideout had put up big numbers for “America’s Team” through the first two weeks of the 2025 season, hauling in 16 of 24 targets for 222 yards.
His return, of course, will depend on how fast he can recover and a high ankle sprains is certainly a delicate injury that should be treated with caution. If only misses two games and is able to come back afterwards, then he’d be able to return for their Week 6 road showdown at the Carolina Panthers on October 12. If he missed the next four weeks as Werder’s reporting suggested, then he’d be slated to return for their Week 8 road matchup at the Denver Broncos on October 26.
Lamb was a top-three fantasy wide receiver in average draft position heading into the 2025 campaign, so his absence will have a considerable impact on fantasy leagues over the next month. Even after practically missing their entire Week 3 matchup against the Bears, he still ranks in the top 15 in receptions, receiving yards, and total EPA, so his absence will be devastating for both the Cowboys and fantasy managers alike.
With him out, George Pickens will be tasked with stepping up as the Cowboys’ top option at wide receiver. He has recorded the exact stat line of five receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown in back-to-back games and is already entering Week 4 as a top-20 fantasy wideout, so Pickens managers should’ve already been considering him for their starting lineups even before Lamb’s injury.
This could also mean more looks for tight end Jake Ferguson, who Dak Prescott targeted a whopping 14 times against the Bears on Sunday. The same could be said for Kavontae Turpin, who is rostered in less than 4% of fantasy leagues and should be readily available on the waiver wire this week.
For Lamb managers looking elsewhere for strong substitute pieces of the waiver wire, Quentin Johnston of the Los Angeles Chargers should be heavily considered. The third-year wideout is having a breakout season so far and he’s rostered in less than 30% of leagues.
