The Rams’ stunning victory over the San Francisco 49ers is sending another Dallas Cowboys player to the Pro Bowl. CeeDee Lamb, the second-year break-out wide receiver, has been named to the team, taking the spot opened up by Rams Cooper Kupp, who will not play. Lamb joins five other Cowboys players selected for this season’s Pro Bowl.
Lamb was the Cowboys’ first-round selection in 2020 after a successful college career at Oklahoma University, where he caught passes from Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, and Baker Mayfield. In three years, Lamb caught 173 passes and exceeded 1,000 yards in both of his final two seasons.
In his first season as a member of the Cowboys, Lamb caught 74 passes and totaled 935 yards despite an inconsistent performance from the Cowboys’ quarterbacks. In 2021, Lamb caught another 79 passes and had his first 1,000-plus yard season in the NFL.
Other Cowboys selected to the honorary game include cornerback Trevon Diggs, guard Zack Taylor, tackle Tyron Smith, linebacker Micah Parsons, and punter Bryan Anger. Smith will not play due to an ankle injury that plagued the star throughout most of the 2021 season.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was selected as an alternate but will be unavailable for the game as he begins his offseason training regimen. Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and former Tampa Bay QB Tom Brady were the two top quarterbacks selected for the NFC, but neither will be playing. Rodgers is rehabbing a toe injury while Brady has officially announced his retirement from the NFL. Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins and Seattle’s Russell Wilson will replace the two veteran quarterbacks.
Lamb may have an opportunity to relive a little of the glory from his days at OU in the Pro Bowl, as Kyler Murray, now the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, will also be playing. Other NFC receivers who are playing in the Pro Bowl this year include Justin Jefferson (Vikings), Deebo Samuel (49ers), and Mike Evans (Tampa Bay), who is replacing Devante Adams, one of the three Packers players who was selected but will not play due to injury.
Lamb will be going against the AFC’s best. New England’s J.C. Jackson, Miami’s Xavien Howard, Cleveland’s Denzel Ward, and Indianapolis’ Kenny Moore were selected to play at cornerback. The Titans’ free safety Kevin Byard and strong safeties Derwin James (Chargers) and Tyrann Mathieu will also do their best to limit the production from Lamb and the rest of the NFC receiving group.
The 2021 Pro Bowl will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The game has not been played since 2019; it was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, though players were selected and honored.
Pro Bowl players are chosen by players, coaches, and fans. Though the game rarely features hard-hitting, it continues to be a popular annual event for fans craving one more opportunity to see their favorite players from all over the league play against the best players in each conference.
