CeeDee Lamb Cleared to Return, Overshown Off Snap Count, and Cowboys Juggle Injuries Ahead of Vikings Matchup
The Dallas Cowboys are getting healthier at the right time - and just in time for a primetime showdown with the Minnesota Vikings. The biggest headline? CeeDee Lamb is back.
After entering concussion protocol following the Week 14 loss to Detroit, the Cowboys’ top wideout has cleared all necessary steps and is set to suit up Sunday night. Lamb was injured during the December 4 game, but the Thursday night kickoff gave him a few extra days to work through the protocol.
He returned to practice in a limited role Wednesday and was a full participant by Thursday. That progression was a strong indicator that he’d be ready to go, and now it’s official.
That’s a major boost for a Dallas offense that leans heavily on Lamb’s dynamic playmaking. With four Pro Bowl nods under his belt, Lamb has been the engine of the passing game. His return gives quarterback Dak Prescott his most trusted weapon back in the fold as the Cowboys look to keep pace in the NFC playoff race.
But Lamb isn’t the only name to watch heading into Sunday.
Trevon Diggs: Game-Time Decision
Cornerback Trevon Diggs is inching closer to a return, but his status remains up in the air. Diggs, who has dealt with a complicated season, told reporters Friday that he felt good enough to play last week but didn’t get enough practice reps to make it happen. This week, he’s had a more complete workload - and he says he’s ready.
Still, the Cowboys are playing it cautiously. Executive VP Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that Diggs will be a game-time decision, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer made it clear earlier in the week that Diggs still needs to prove he’s ready “to do everything the right way.”
It’s a tough spot for both sides. Diggs, a two-time Pro Bowler, clearly wants to be out there - and he’s made it known that he’d like to remain in Dallas long-term. But he’s also realistic about the business side of the game.
“I love Dallas,” Diggs said. “But, you know, at the end of the day, it’s a business. Whatever happens, happens.”
He added that he’s not dwelling on uncertainty: “I know who I am. I know what I’m capable of. I’m not having a crisis of not knowing how to play football.”
DeMarvion Overshown: No More Restrictions
There’s more good news on the defensive side of the ball: linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is no longer on a snap count.
After missing the early part of the season while rehabbing a significant knee injury - he tore three ligaments - Overshown has been ramping up his workload since debuting on November 17. In last week’s game against Detroit, he logged 47 defensive snaps, good for 76% of the unit’s total.
Now, he’s cleared for full action.
“Now that the limit is not a thing anymore, those packages that I wasn’t on the field, you’ll see me more,” Overshown said. “It’ll still be some mixing and matching, but I’ll be on the field more than I have.”
That’s music to the ears of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who’s been looking for Overshown to bring the kind of impact that former Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee once did - sideline-to-sideline tackling, play recognition, and a knack for forcing turnovers.
“You should have all those things because you’re the middle of the defense,” Eberflus said. “And I’m starting to see it with Overshown.”
Jake Ferguson In, Tyler Guyton Out
Tight end Jake Ferguson, who tweaked his calf during practice this week, will be available for Sunday’s game. That’s a relief for an offense that relies on his versatility in both the passing game and run blocking.
But not all the injury updates are positive.
Rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton will miss his third straight game due to a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 12 against the Eagles. The first-round pick has shown flashes of elite potential, but the injury has kept him sidelined during a crucial stretch.
With Guyton out, rookie Nate Thomas - a seventh-round pick from the same 2024 class - will get the start against Minnesota. Thomas has held his own in limited action, but facing a Vikings front that brings pressure from multiple angles will be a serious test.
Special Teams: Turpin’s Tweaks and Return Game Woes
KaVontae Turpin has been flagged twice in the past three games for invalid fair catch signals - a rare and frustrating penalty that costs the team five yards. It’s something Turpin says he’s actively working to clean up.
“I’m just going to stop,” Turpin said. “And do what needs to be done.”
Special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen isn’t sweating the miscues, saying the fix is simple: make a clear decision - fair catch or don’t - and stick with it.
But the penalties are just one part of a larger issue. The Cowboys have struggled in the return game this season. Despite Turpin earning first-team All-Pro honors last year, the unit ranks 25th in kickoff return average (24.9 yards) and 29th in punt return average.
“If we can get stuff started with the gunners and stuff, I think I can get back to my old self,” Turpin said. “We just have to get that thing started.”
Looking Ahead
With Lamb back, Ferguson cleared, and Overshown fully unleashed, the Cowboys are getting key pieces back on the field at a critical moment. But questions remain - especially on the offensive line and in the secondary.
Sunday night’s matchup against the Vikings could go a long way in shaping the Cowboys’ playoff trajectory. And with players like Lamb and Diggs - stars who can change a game in an instant - the spotlight will be shining bright.