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Time is ticking for the Dallas Cowboys on their hopes of not only getting hold out receiver CeeDee Lamb signed to a contract extension, but also having him ready to make an impact in the Sept. 8 season opener against the Cleveland Browns.
It is less than two weeks away.
Jerry Jones was curiously tight lipped when asked about Lamb following Saturdays 26-19 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in preseason final at AT&T Stadium.
“I don’t have any updates, Jones said. “We got a lot of things to talk about. I’m only talking about who is here.”
But don’t let his coyness fool you.
According to a source, the Cowboys are making progress on deal with Lamb.
Nothing has been agreed or consummated but the team has increased its offer to Lamb to above $33 million annually.
And the Cowboys have narrowed the length of a prospective deal to four years.
Lamb is scheduled to make $17.9 million in 2024 on the fifth year of his rookie deal.
He is looking to become at least the second highest paid receiver in NFL history behind Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, who signed a four year extension worth $35 million annually in June.
Lamb led the NFL with 135 catches and set a franchise record with 1,749 passing yards in 2023.
Lamb has boycotted the offseason program, OTAs and minicamp as leverage towards a new deal.
The Cowboys have long been confident about getting something consummated before the start of the season.
If something doesn’t get done early this week, there is a chance Lamb won’t be a full go for Browns game while also risking a soft tissue injury if he does play.
“You got to have a healthy plan,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “Yeah, definitely. We’ve got to be smart there and just use good judgment. And that’ll be the case. But yeah, I think it’s just the reality of where we are. So, we’ll deal with it one day at a time.”
McCarthy also acknowledged the urgency of the situation.
“I think there’s urgency on both sides,” McCarthy said. “Just once again, I mean, this is business. What goes on there is really between the individuals in the room. But yes, I think everybody involved wants to get it done.”