Why the timing and rhythm between Dallas’ Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb is a work in progress

During CeeDee Lamb’s franchise record-setting 2023 campaign that saw him haul in 135 receptions for 1,749 yards, it would’ve been nonsensical to question the timing and rhythm between him and quarterback Dak Prescott.

But eight months since the conclusion of that season – a period that saw Lamb not present at the facility for more than seven months while awaiting a new contract extension , including missing the entirety of training camp – Lamb and Prescott are working toward finding that rhythm that they were able to connect on a season ago.

In the team’s week one win over the Cleveland Browns , Prescott connected with Lamb on just 50 percent of his targets (five receptions on 10 attempts), the lowest percentage for the duo since week one of the 2022 season.

The duo expect better numbers on Sunday in the home opener against New Orleans .

“There’s a few things, I think CeeDee would say the same,” Prescott said on Thursday. “But some things that were probably understood were going to come up when we haven’t had the time that we had [in previous years]. Maybe it’s me just not trusting a little bit at the top of my throw, whatever it is. Maybe bleeding a little on a route. Some of those things just happen naturally.”

In the team’s win against Cleveland, Prescott completed 63.6% (14 of 22) of passes targeted to receivers not named Lamb.

Lamb feels the difference early in the season compared to the past, as well as Sunday, served as one of his first opportunities in a full-contact environment since the conclusion of last season.

“Week one was obviously very different for me wearing pads for the first time,” Lamb said. “It wasn’t much of a drop off, but obviously there’s room for improvement. We got better this week and that should be on display this Sunday.”

In the 2023 season, Prescott and Lamb connected on 74.5-percent of targets (135 of 181) with the lowest rate coming in the team’s week three loss against Arizona (four receptions on seven targets).

Fortunately for the Cowboys, the defense and special teams helped to protect a 24-point halftime lead in a second half that saw the offense go 0-for-5 on third down and not get into the end zone.

“You look at the game, and as we’ve said around here, it was a tale of two halves,” Prescott said. “I’m glad we were able to do it in a win. That’s my point of why I say we left some meat on the bone. [We’re] able to clean those things up at practice, talk about them, communicate them and understanding we’ve just got to stay disciplined.”

Now with two additional practices in the bag ahead of the team’s home opener on Sunday, Lamb says he is feeling more comfortable with each time he hits the field.

“I’m back,” he said. “I’m back into the thing.”