FRISCO, Texas — Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Friday that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb looks like a different type of explosive this season, after Lamb went over 100 receiving yards in back-to-back games for the Dallas Cowboys.
Lamb caught eight passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders. He followed with seven catches for 112 yards on eight targets in the 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro.
Schottenheimer said Lamb’s route running, separation, and lower-body power stand out on film, and that Lamb is enjoying the game.
“Yeah, he looks really explosive to me, and that’s weird for me to say that because he is explosive, but like he’s a different type of explosive right now,” Schottenheimer said. “I mean, just the way he’s running his routes, the way he’s creating separation, the lower body power and explosiveness just jumps at me. I know he feels pretty good.”
“But again, I really do think that what’s been cool for me is seeing the joy that he’s having from playing the game,” Schottenheimer continued. “And last year he had a great year. He always does. But battled injuries and things like that. But he’s in a really good head space right now.”
Klayton Adams Says A Lingering Injury Hid The Best CeeDee Lamb
Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams studied all of Lamb’s 2025 tape after joining the staff. He said Thursday he came away believing a lingering injury kept Dallas from seeing the best version of Lamb last season.
“He’s just playing lights-out. He’s playing really, really confident. One of the things that, when I watched all of last year’s tape, I came away feeling like we didn’t necessarily see the best version of CeeDee Lamb because I think there was kind of a lingering injury that just kind of held its way through the season,” Adams said. “I love what we’re getting right now. He’s been outstanding. And what goes along with that is when he’s playing good, he’s in a good mood and fun to be around. And so, love all that.”
Dak Prescott And CeeDee Lamb Lean On Nonverbal Communication
Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott have been the NFL’s most efficient quarterback-receiver duo by passer rating this season, a figure raised during Prescott’s Thursday availability. Adams said Prescott knows how Lamb comes out of different breaks and what Lamb’s head will look like when a defender squats on a route.
“Well, I mean, the number one thing is just, quarterbacks have, the longer you’re throwing to a guy, there’s just little things: body language, the way that he comes out of a route. They can communicate to you with their head turned,” Adams explained. “And I think these guys have been around each other so long now that Dak knows the speed in which he’ll come out of a punch and plant versus a punch and pivot. He knows exactly what the back of his head is going to look like if he feels like somebody’s squatting on a route. I mean, there’s nonverbal communication that goes with the amount of experience that these guys have playing together.”
Prescott said Thursday he does not need much credit for Lamb getting open.
“Yeah, he does a good job of getting open. CeeDee’s a hell of a player. I don’t need a lot of credit in him getting open and making those guys miss,” Prescott said. “I think the best thing that’s happened, and it’ll continue to grow, is just our communication.”
Lamb caught a 3-yard touchdown on Dallas’ opening drive in Week 2 and a two-point conversion in Rio. Schottenheimer said Wednesday that Lamb and KaVontae Turpin give Dallas players who flow with the ball in their hands near the goal line.
“You always want to make them cover the 53 and a third that they have to cover down in the red zone. What you have to be aware of is the safeties are much tighter. They show up a lot quicker,” Schottenheimer said. “But a guy like Turpin, we’ve got a number of guys, Turpin and CeeDee, guys like that, flows really good with the ball in his hand. Those are things that we definitely need to continue to make people cover sideline to sideline.”
Lamb draws a Houston secondary that Schottenheimer called outstanding at both corner spots. Dallas plays at the Houston Texans on Sunday at noon CT.
