The Dallas Cowboys opted not to play their two best wide receivers on the opening drive of Monday night’s contest against the Las Vegas Raiders.
CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were benched to start the contest. According to ESPN’s Lisa Salters, Lamb and Pickens’ benching during the opening was a coach’s decision and was not injury-related. Both players were on the field for the Cowboys’ second drive.
According to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the two receivers were benched after “they missed some things.” After the game, Brian Schottenheimer addressed the benching but didn’t go into specifics.
“Made a coach’s decision,” he told reporters. “There were some things that were missed.”
Lamb chose not to discuss the benching.
Salters noted that she asked the Cowboys’ PR team whether the benching of Lamb and Pickens was a punishment of some kind, to which she was told, “You’ll have to address that with coach.”
Pickens went on to record 144 receiving yards and a touchdown in the win, while Lamb posted 66 yards and a score.
Despite Dallas’ struggles, Lamb and Pickens have been one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL this year.
Lamb has recorded 491 receiving yards and a touchdown in six games. He missed three games in September and October because of an ankle injury, but has performed well when healthy.
Pickens, who was traded to the Cowboys this offseason after spending three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is on pace for the best year of his career, logging the fifth-most yards (764) and the sixth-most touchdowns (6) in the NFL this year.
Thanks in large part to the play of Lamb and Pickens, Dallas is putting up the third-most yards per game (378.4) and the third-most points per game (29.2) this season.
But the offensive success hasn’t translated to wins. The Cowboys are 3-5-1 this year because of their defensive woes, and a second consecutive playoff absence seems likely at this point.
Needless to say, a win over the Raiders on Monday is integral in keeping Dallas’ postseason hopes alive.
