The fascination with Odell Beckham Jr. continues.
The recruitment among the Cowboys reaches a fever pitch.
But as pursuit of the veteran receiver escalates, as speculation focuses on what OBJ can bring to this team in the stretch run and postseason, let’s take a brief break.
Suggestion: Why not talk about what CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup are doing rather than what Beckham can add?
“We have a tremendous love for those guys and the way they continue to grow,’’ coach Mike McCarthy said. “Those two guys are still young players.
“CeeDee is more productive every week, every opportunity. We’ve got to stay focused there. He’s delivering for us.
“Michael is coming back from a major joint injury and is making progress.’’
Lamb led the Cowboys with six receptions for 106 yards in the Thanksgiving win over the New York Giants. And that was with a 13-yard completion wiped out due to a holding call on tight end Dalton Schultz.
Dak Prescott hit Lamb with a 25-yard completion to set up the team’s first touchdown. He added a 21-yard reception in the third quarter to set up the score that pushed the Cowboys lead to 21-13.
Lamb had receptions of 15 and 23 yards on the team’s final scoring drive.
“CeeDee made some huge, huge plays down the field, you know he had people all over him,’’ McCarthy said. “I think it shows his athleticism.
“I thought it was a tremendous effort on the no-catch that we challenged for a possible touchdown.’’
On that play, Lamb ran across the back of the end zone and came down with a remarkable catch. The officials ruled he was out of the end zone, a ruling the Cowboys challenged and lost.
“I definitely thought the CeeDee catch was a touchdown,’’ Prescott said. “I went to the sideline, dropped my helmet and everything. It was an amazing catch regardless of his feet.
“His heel came down out of bounds or whatever that rule it is. It’s a different rule on the sideline versus the end zone. I don’t quite understand.’’
Is this a catch by CeeDee Lamb? 🤔#Thanksgiving pic.twitter.com/zIAC19DYXq
— Brian Y (@byysports) November 25, 2022
The sting of failing to score there was erased seconds later when rookie Peyton Hendershot scored on a 2-yard end around to spark the creative Whac-a-Mole celebration with his fellow tight ends in one of the Salvation Army red kettles that adorned the field. After the game, Lamb was asked where the nonreception ranks on his list of difficult catches.
“It don’t rate,’’ he said. “Yeah, it was difficult but it doesn’t count.
“That was it.’’
Well, what about that one-handed catch along the sidelines earlier in the game?
“To be honest I had been getting held all night,’’ Lamb said. “They were holding one arm, it was the same arm, the left one so I only had the right hand and had to start using it.’’
Lamb struggled with the lead receiver role he inherited from Amari Cooper to start the season. He conceded as much. But he’s grown more and more comfortable.
Lamb has 64 receptions through the first 11 games of the season. Jason Witten, Cooper, Michael Irvin and Dez Bryant are the only players in franchise history who have had more at this stage of the season. His 857 yards receiving ranks sixth in the NFL entering this weekend.
After going 17 games without a 100-yard effort — a stretch that began after Halloween last year — Lamb has broken the 100-yard barrier twice in the last three games. He caught 23 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s games against Green Bay, Minnesota and the Giants.
And Gallup? He caught a season-high five passes for 63 yards against New York. Four of his receptions went for first downs.
It was easily the most impactful game he’s had in the 11 months since suffering a torn ACL.
“I talked about it last week,’’ Prescott said of Gallup. “He’s getting his feet back under him.
“I think they are back under him. He made a couple of tough catches, one-on-ones, and the nonstop early in the first was a huge catch. Just continuing that all game long. He’s showing up.
“I’m glad he’s gained that confidence back. He’s dangerous when he’s got all that, and it’s back.’’
Lamb and Gallup are both showing up. Beckham?
That’s to be determined.
Catch David Moore and Robert Wilonsky as they co-host Intentional Grounding on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) every Wednesday at 7 p.m. during the Cowboys season.
Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN
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