Who turns into Cowboys’ No. 1 receiving goal with CeeDee Lamb out vs. Packers? George Pickens? Jake Ferguson?

FRISCO, Texas — Simply earlier than the Dallas Cowboys kicked off the 2025 NFL season on the Tremendous Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer had a second with All-Professional, No. 1 broad receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Schottenheimer had a Musfasa-Simba second with Lamb, exhibiting Dallas’ four-time Professional Bowl broad receiver every part the sunshine touches, or on this case, all of the performs by which he’s the Cowboys’ first learn. He additionally confirmed Lamb every part that was accessible slightly below for brand spanking new Cowboys broad receiver George Pickens. Now, the broad quantity of the Lamb-dedicated targets is up for grabs with No. 88 more likely to miss Week 4 towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers with a excessive ankle sprain. Lamb hasn’t formally been dominated out, proprietor/basic supervisor Jerry Jones stated on Monday that placing Lamb on injured reserve is a dialogue the staff is having. 

“I confirmed CeeDee earlier than the sport all of his targets. So on the again of your name sheet, you need to get the ball to sure folks, and it was like ‘CeeDee take a look at all of your targets.’ Actually, George’s was proper under him, and I used to be like ‘take a look at all of George’s targets.’ Clearly the best way we’re designing the sport plan is to characteristic your playmakers,” Schottenheimer stated earlier than kickoff in Week 1 vs. the Eagles. “It is very evident that these two guys are elite gamers.”

Now, Pickens’ performs will seemingly be moved to the highest of Schottenheimer’s play name sheet with Lamb sidelined by a excessive ankle sprain he suffered in Week 3 on the Chicago Bears when linebacker Noah Sewell rolled up on his ankle. Sure, the top coach went out of his approach to say the gameplan may have extra selection with Lamb out of the image, nevertheless it’s clear Pickens and tight finish Jake Ferguson would be the passing recreation focal factors going ahead.  

“We add extra rows [on the call sheet] for extra guys. Fergy goes to have an enormous part this week. Fergy is taking part in very well proper now. I feel I actually like the best way all of our tight ends are taking part in. Jalen Tolbert is a man you all know led us in touchdowns final 12 months with seven [receiving] touchdowns,” Schottenheimer stated on Wednesday. “He’ll should step up if CeeDee does not play. [KaVontae] Turp[in] may have his, however George is all the time going to be a focal a part of what we’re doing whether or not CeeDee is on the market or not. That does not actually change. I’d say George’s function does not actually change. It is extra of a few of the different guys round him that might change.”

What is going to change is how the Packers’ protection will shade their protection towards Pickens. When he and Lamb are each on the sector, it is virtually inconceivable to run double protection as a result of that leaves one of many two one-on-one. Lamb’s 3,165 yards receiving are tied with Cincinnati All-Professional Ja’Marr Chase are essentially the most within the NFL since 2023, and he leads all broad receivers in yards from scrimmage (3,348) in that span. Pickens’ 16.1 yards per catch leads the league amongst gamers with at the very least 150 catches since he was drafted within the second spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.  

“He’ll in all probability be getting a bit bit extra consideration regarding the protection. The chance is clearly there for him, nevertheless it’s there for the opposite guys too,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams stated Thursday. “There’s a certain quantity of balls that might in all probability get unfold out between CeeDee and GP. Now, the opposite guys within the room … that is their alternative to do one thing, and we count on them to play at a very excessive degree for us.”

Pickens himself stated he is “most undoubtedly” anticipating extra double protection. Nevertheless, he does not really feel like that can change his strategy very a lot. That is as a result of even when he’s double-covered, the 24-year-old is assured in his capacity to make the play or draw a move interference flag on the protection. His three defensive move interference penalties drawn is tied for essentially the most within the NFL this season. 

“Not likely,” Pickens stated Thursday when requested if being double teamed modifications lots. “As a result of you’ll be able to all the time, particularly with me, I can both get the flag, or I will make the catch. Whether or not it is two, three, 4, 5 guys. I will get the flag or get the catch. It is all the time a very good factor.”

Regardless of a drop to start the fourth quarter in Dallas’ 31-14 Week 3 defeat on the Chicago Bears, Professional Bowl quarterback Dak Prescott feels he is at a very good place together with his on-field chemistry with Pickens simply three common season video games into their time collectively. 

“Yeah, it is [the chemistry] the place we should be at this level. Clearly there’s all the time going to be development, that is with any receiver. Anyone that I play with within the sense of we’re by no means complacent, we’re all the time going to push it, however very comfy, very assured in what he will do, the place I count on him to be, the place he expects the ball,” Prescott stated on Thursday. … “A dialog we simply had on the market right now was one which was wanted after a few incompletions on a sure ball, simply getting again at it and us having the identical mindset of how we’ll assault that route. He is a fantastic participant. I advised y’all that from the time he confirmed up. Guys like George, CeeDee, they make it straightforward for that chemistry to go. They do their job. I simply speak to them a bit bit right here, what I count on there they usually go and make performs. So I am trying simply to proceed to construct on what we have solely began.”  

That chemistry will likely be important as a result of a lot of Prescott’s throws on Sunday evening will seemingly contain the Cowboys quarterback throwing to spots and trusting his meant goal will likely be there. Dallas is taking part in with a backup heart (Brock Hoffman) and proper guard (T.J. Bass) within the lineup with each beginning heart Cooper Beebe (ankle) and proper guard Tyler Booker (ankle) sidelined. 

Oh, and in case you have not heard, the Packers have former Cowboys All-Professional edge rusher Micah Parsons now after buying and selling him to Inexperienced Bay for 2 first-round picks and defensive sort out Kenny Clark per week earlier than the season. Parsons is producing the best quarterback stress price (21.8%) amongst all edge rushers this season though he is been double-teamed on the highest price (18.4%) amongst edge rushers, in keeping with NextGenStats by way of NFL Media. Reverse of him on Inexperienced Bay’s entrance seven is Professional Bowl edge rusher Rashan Gary: he leads the NFL with 4.5 sacks coming into Week 4. 

“Timing on routes, that is what I used to be saying for all of the receivers,” Pickens stated. “If you happen to present up on the precise timing, it ought to be an OK recreation. … I really feel like he [Prescott] is likely one of the finest at that [tight window throws] and with me timing off my steps too, and I can change it. It helps lots.”

* Could be eighth in NFL in span since 2020 

Pickens’ reception warmth map from his final two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2023-2024), by way of TruMedia, signifies a brilliant, glowing yellow alongside the sidelines the place he was a big-play deep menace as his gaudy 16.1 profession yards per catch common signifies. It additionally signifies a pointy decline in route quantity over the center of the sector. 

This season, the Cowboys have used Pickens rather more beneath and over the center whereas nonetheless sprinkling in deep, downfield targets as effectively. That selection forces protection to at the very least have to think about extra areas to cowl when Pickens breaks off the road of scrimmage this season. 

“I really feel prefer it’s good. Guys prefer to play me exterior, shade [toward] the go ball, perimeter stuff,” Pickens stated. “So it [the middle of the field] is open for me, so I simply take it.” 

TE Jake Ferguson additionally primed for prime goal share

Professional Bowl tight finish Jake Ferguson’s 27 catches are the second-most within the NFL behind solely Los Angeles Professional Bowl broad receiver Puka Nacua’s 29 this season. Additionally they stand as essentially the most by any participant by way of the primary three video games of a season in Cowboys historical past, and Ferguson is now tied with Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame tight finish Antonio Gates (2007) for essentially the most catches by a good finish by way of the primary three video games of a season in NFL historical past. Regardless of the excessive quantity of receptions, Ferguson’s 183 receiving yards, created on a mean of 6.8 yards per reception, rank twenty fourth within the league up to now.

“I’d say simply taking the precise steps. I simply caught quite a lot of checkdowns. With a [Packers] protection like that and CeeDee happening, typically that is all we are able to hit — some checkdowns,” Ferguson stated on Wednesday. “In my view, I need to get extra yards. I feel I ought to be breaking extra tackles, however I feel that simply comes with letting the sport come to you, not making an attempt to do an excessive amount of. Not making an attempt to be a superhero. Simply taking part in my recreation.”

Nevertheless, he is aware of he’ll be requested to do extra with Lamb sidelined, which can imply placing on the cape whereas operating some seam routes over the center.

“It is subsequent man up, so I simply received to be clear,” Ferguson stated. … “Getting with Dak and simply taking a look at a few of these routes and saying ‘that is the place I should be, that is the place I need to be and that is the place you want me to be’ in order that when he does have to make a throw, I am there.” 

Prescott recalled Ferguson being there for him for an 18-yard acquire over the center to arrange kicker Brandon Aubrey’s 64-yard, game-tying discipline objective in an eventual 40-37 additional time victory in Week 2 over the New York Giants. That is the kind of timing that has Prescott feeling good about his over the center safety blanket. 

“Jake’s a man I’ve all the time had confidence in,” Prescott stated Thursday. … “I’m going again to the end-of-the-game play towards New York. That does not occur with out all the reps that we have put in collectively. I am super-confident in who he’s, what he will do and count on one other large recreation from him.”

The final time Dallas confronted the Packers, they have been embarrassed 48-32 within the 2023 NFC wild card spherical, a recreation they as soon as trailed 27-0. One of many few brilliant spots, if one can name it that, was Ferguson catching a playoff career-high 10 catches for 93 yards and three touchdowns within the postseason defeat. Clearly, Dallas is not searching for a repeat total efficiency, however Ferguson would not thoughts replicating that kind of manufacturing on Sunday evening. 

“Generally the seam ball is there towards this man [Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley], and I do love the seam ball,” Ferguson stated. “Nevertheless, we do not know what they will give. They may throw the kitchen sink. Who is aware of? However the perfect factor we are able to do is simply put together for every part, and on the similar time, play Cowboys soccer. Play our recreation.”