FRISCO, Texas — As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for a pivotal Thanksgiving matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, offensive coordinator
Brian Schottenheimer delivered his clearest message of the season: the team’s leaders must play with discipline, focus, and professionalism — especially CeeDee Lamb.
Despite Dallas escaping with a dramatic win over the Philadelphia Eagles,
CeeDee Lamb became the center of criticism after multiple drops and a heated moment in which he yelled at Dak Prescott on the field. Schottenheimer made it clear the Cowboys need Lamb to perform at a star level —
both in play and in attitude — if they want to stay alive in the NFC playoff race.
Speaking to reporters, Schottenheimer emphasized that Lamb had a strong, locked-in week of practice but insisted that performance on the field is the only thing that matters:
“He’s a big-time player. This is a big-time stage. We need stability and composure from the guys who lead this team.”
While acknowledging Lamb’s effort to correct mistakes, Schottenheimer stressed that certain issues
cannot happen again, specifically:
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drops in key moments
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emotional outbursts toward teammates
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lapses in focus during critical downs
For the first time this season, Schottenheimer openly acknowledged the possibility of benching the team’s top offensive star.
He didn’t mince words:
“If Lamb keeps dropping the ball or lets his emotions lead to yelling at teammates, we will put him on the bench. We have other guys ready to compete with better discipline.”
According to team sources, the Cowboys are prepared to rotate snaps if Lamb’s inconsistency continues.
Lamb’s performance against the Eagles highlighted an ongoing problem:
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8 drops — most by a Cowboys player since 2012
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44 receptions
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632 yards
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2 touchdowns
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Career-low catch rate
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Career-high drop rate
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Missed 3 games due to a high ankle sprain
Meanwhile, George Pickens has surged past 1,000 yards with 8 touchdowns, creating real pressure on Lamb’s WR1 status.
The Chiefs (6–5) bring an aggressive defense, especially on third downs. Dallas needs Lamb to:
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secure the football
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stay composed
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work in sync with Prescott
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play like the offensive focal point he’s expected to be
Schottenheimer labeled the upcoming game as “a true test of Lamb’s toughness and maturity.”
The Cowboys still believe Lamb has the talent to shine under the Thanksgiving spotlight — but the trust is no longer unconditional.
“We need CeeDee Lamb to lead with his actions. If he can’t do that, we’ll find someone who will.” — Schottenheimer
The Thanksgiving showdown with the Chiefs may not only shape the Cowboys’ playoff push — it could also redefine
CeeDee Lamb’s role for the rest of the season.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs are moving quickly to fix one of their most pressing concerns before the season opener in Brazil. Offensive line depth has been the story of training camp and preseason.
After a winless 0-3 preseason, alarm bells rang about protecting Patrick Mahomes and supporting Isiah Pacheco in the run game. Rookies struggled, veterans failed to inspire confidence, and analysts labeled the Chiefs’ interior blocking as a “mess.”
The front office finally responded with a decisive move. Reports confirm that the franchise has reached terms with a veteran guard who brings both versatility and much-needed experience to the offensive trenches.
That veteran is Dalton Risner, a former Minnesota Viking and longtime Denver Bronco. “I’m ready to fight for this city. Kansas City lives and breathes football, and I want to wear red and gold to prove I belong — and to help bring a Super Bowl back home,” he said.
Risner, 28, has appeared in 80 games with 68 starts since being drafted in the second round by Denver in 2019. Known for his elite run-blocking, he earned an 85.7 PFF rushing grade in 2024, ranking among the league’s best.
In Kansas City, his role will likely be that of a swing guard. He can back up Trey Smith on the right side or push Kingsley Suamataia on the left, where preseason issues have exposed vulnerabilities.
GM Brett Veach reportedly secured Risner at a modest price, between $2–3 million. Analysts call it a low-risk, high-reward signing that could make the Chiefs’ offensive line “have no real weaknesses” heading into September.
For a franchise chasing an unprecedented three-peat, timing is everything. Risner’s arrival comes just days before final roster cuts and a high-profile Week 1 showdown with the Chargers. Chiefs Kingdom now watches to see if stability finally returns up front.
