Dallas Cowboys Release Young WR In Surprise Move Amid CeeDee Lamb Rumors

CeeDee Lamb (Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
The Dallas Cowboys have moved on from a young wide receiver following a report that superstar CeeDee Lamb could return this week.



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Coming off a frustrating 30-27 road loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Cowboys have been without CeeDee Lamb since he suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears (a 31-14 Dallas loss).

Dallas has stayed afloat in the playoff race by going 1-1-1 in games without Lamb, thanks to the emergence of offseason trade acquisition George Pickens, who has 32 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns.

Per The Athletic’s Jon Machota, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that “it’s looking good” for CeeDee Lamb, fellow wide receiver KaVontae Turpin and guard Tyler Booker to return for Sunday’s Week 7 tilt against the Washington Commanders.

In another move that suggests Lamb is indeed about to return, the Cowboys announced on their website that wide receiver Jalen Cropper has been waived. The Fresno State product has been waived and re-signed numerous times by Dallas since signing with them in 2023.

Cropper has played in three games for Dallas this season, recovering one fumble.

CeeDee Lamb’s Return Will Bolster Cowboys’ Playoff Push

CeeDee Lamb doing an NFL celebrationCeeDee Lamb (Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images)

Predictably, the Dallas defense has struggled mightily following the stunning Micah Parsons-Green Bay Packers blockbuster trade. The Cowboys are allowing a whopping 30.7 points per game, the second-most in football.

Dallas is only alive in the playoff race because of the explosive offense and the heroics of kicker Brandon Aubrey. The Cowboys are averaging 29.7 points per game, an impressive feat considering they haven’t had Lamb since Week 3.

The 26-year-old CeeDee Lamb has been a top-five receiver since 2022, eclipsing the 100-catch and 1,300-yard mark in three straight years. He had 16 receptions for 222 yards and no touchdowns in his first three games of 2025 before suffering the injury.