The Dallas Cowboys were dealt a humbling defeat on Sunday, falling 31-14 to the Chicago Bears in Week 3, and the late-game decision to remove Dak Prescott became one of the main storylines of the night.
The 2025 NFL season has already presented significant challenges for Dallas, and September 21 proved to be no different as they were thoroughly outclassed by their opponents from the NFC North, slipping to a second defeat of the year.
Following the offseason trade of defensive cornerstone Micah Parsons, the Cowboys have struggled to establish an identity on either side of the ball, ranking last in the league in yards surrendered per contest.
The trip to Soldier Field only reinforced the growing concerns surrounding the roster. Those fears were realized as early as the first quarter when Chicago capitalized on a turnover and turned a fumble into an opening touchdown.
From there, the Bears maintained control, eventually securing their first victory of the season despite the efforts of Prescott to rally the team back into contention.
But it was a hopeless task without his reliable All-Pro wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb, who left early with an ankle injury as the Bears’ defense limited Dallas to just 14 points.
As a result of the game being quickly thrust into garbage time, Prescott’s removal late in the fourth quarter drew attention, particularly since it was not injury-related. So, what are his thoughts?
“Yeah for sure,” Prescott said when asked. “I mean obviously I want every rep. I’m never happy about being pulled out.
“But you have to be realistic and professional about where the game was.”
The move occurred with just under five minutes remaining, but the result was already decided as Dallas had managed only one scoring drive following Lamb’s departure, highlighted by a two-yard one-handed touchdown grab from George Pickens.
Prescott’s acknowledgment of the team’s situation reflected his awareness of the bigger picture of their struggles, even if the competitive instinct made sitting on the sideline a difficult adjustment.
CeeDee Lamb injury: What do we know?
The Cowboys’ offensive outlook now hinges on the status of Lamb.
The receiver suffered his injury in the first quarter when linebacker Noah Sewell landed awkwardly on the back of his legs during a rushing attempt.
He briefly returned to action in the second quarter but was visibly limited and ruled out after halftime. Regardless, Lamb expressed optimism following the game, indicating that he felt stronger as the evening progressed.
“This was like one of those protect me away from myself type of deals,” Lamb said.
“Once I started feeling much better and then I started getting strength back in my ankle as far as mobility and being able to cut and like real dynamic movements, I was ready to go back out there.
“But [the medical staff] told me no.”
According to team sources, Lamb will undergo an MRI on Monday to assess the severity of the injury.
He was not in a protective boot and walked with only a slight limp, which provides some hope for a quicker recovery.
For Dallas, the upcoming home contest against Green Bay carries increased importance as the Packers are coming off their first loss of the year to the Cleveland Browns, whilst Parsons will look to make a point against his former employer.
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