Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb on his visible frustrations: 'I will be better'

FRISCO — To state the obvious, Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens was frustrating — for Dallas Cowboys fans, coaches and players.

Not only was star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb included among the frustrated, he might’ve been the poster child for it.

Lamb, just like nearly a year ago at this time, showcased his frustrations often against the Ravens. He wore them on his sleeve after routes gone unnoticed, or connections missed. The camera even caught him having emotional sideline interactions with wide receivers coach Robert Prince, veteran offensive lineman Zack Martin and quarterback Dak Prescott.

Lamb wasn’t in the locker room after the loss, nor was he in the locker room during the open period for the media on Monday. On Tuesday, he spoke with reporters and not only acknowledged his display of frustrations, but he also apologized for it.

“Honestly, I have to be truthful to myself,” Lamb said. “I played a part in that loss. A big part, honestly. My body language nor my attitude approaching the situation helped the situation or the outcome of the game.”

We talked with CeeDee Lamb for the first time since Sunday’s loss.

He took responsibility for his frustrations and performance on Sunday. Said he was frustrated with himself.

“I will be better in the future, and it’s going to be fun.” pic.twitter.com/WrN1C9PTAO

— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) September 24, 2024

Lamb’s slow start, and the frustrations shown on Sunday, were reminiscent of a year ago. Lamb was visibly frustrated, both on the field and on the sideline, in a 42-10 road loss to San Francisco where he only saw five targets. He acknowledged those frustrations last year, too, and was accountable. After that, he went on a historic run. He caught all seven targets for 117 yards in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers the next week. After that, he became the first player in NFL history to have three-straight games with at least 10 catches an at least 150 yards.

Lamb’s biggest personal low of the season sparked his biggest personal high. He was asked on Tuesday if something similar may happen this year.

Lamb paused and chuckled before answering.

“I plan on doing it again,” he said.

That’s a focus for the Cowboys collectively. Even head coach Mike McCarthy said that when asked about Lamb’s body language on Sunday, without actually answering the body language element of the question.

“The only thing I’m focused on with our passing game is we’ve got to get our completion percentage up,” McCarthy said. “It starts with the playcaller. We threw the ball 51 times and not north of 60 percent, that’s where my focus is, and that’s where everyone’s focus needs to be.”

Lamb is also focusing on himself, as well.

He said his frustrations weren’t with the team or the offense, despite the camera catching some passionate moments with him and Prescott and other members of the offense. Both Prescott and Lamb have admitted through the first three weeks that their first-team All-Pro connection from last year hasn’t been on point to start the season. Lamb refuted that his training camp absence, while he negotiated his massive new extension, is responsible, but he did say there’s urgency to get back on track.

So far, Lamb has 13 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets.

“Our relationship, if anything, has gotten stronger,” Lamb said about Prescott. “Don’t let what’s out there fool you. We’re brothers to the end. We know that we’re all we got. I tip my hat to him. I have the utmost respect for him. I look at him as a brother. So with that being said, everything is going to come out: the energy, the passion, the love, the fight, and then we’ll make up in the end. No craziness now.”

“I’m not going no where ima be here all day.” pic.twitter.com/oFnUI32T4d

— Brittany Bowen (@__brittbrat_) September 22, 2024

Now that time has passed, Lamb said he’s done some reflection. Fittingly, he said he’s a huge believer at starting with the man in the mirror. So he re-watched the game. He said it pissed him off.

“But hey, I did that,” he said. “I can’t get mad at nobody else. With that being said, I’ve learned.”

He continued later: “I fully take accountability in that. I have no shame in that … I will be better in the future, and it’s going to be fine.”