NFL analyst puts CeeDee Lamb on potential injury watch due to contract negotiation with Jerry Jones

CeeDee Lamb is out of the frying pan but jumps directly into the fire. With the contract dispute now settled, but with only a few opportunities to get ready for the regular season, Lamb finds himself in a pressure cooker. According to NFL analyst Mike Florio, that could lead to an early injury.

Speaking on "Pro Football Talk" on Wednesday, Florio used the dreaded hamstring injury as an example.

"[1:30] There's another detriment to this beyond not having the preparation that he would have had by being there for a normal camp. There's gonna be a desire, an urgency, a passion, to maybe overdo it, and maybe that's how you pop a hamstring, right? 'I gotta go extra hard. I gotta make up for lost time,'" Florio said.

Lamb claimed in a clip on the program that he has been working out in his own time but many know that it's not the same as training with the team. Players might be able to push themselves hard on their own but coaches usually get even more out of players. As such, Florio appears to believe that Week 1 could leave Lamb sore even if he remains healthy.

The existential problem is the Cowboys don't have much time with Lamb to get him ready for Week 1. If they go too slow, he might not be ready and if they go too quickly, they might injure him or add plenty of discomfort which could linger toward the start of the season.

At this point, the negotiation between Jerry Jones and Lamb could be the culprit for a sluggish September output for the receiver.

Negotiation timing plants seed for future problems for CeeDee Lamb

CeeDee Lamb at NFC Wild Card Playoffs - Green Bay Packers v Dallas Cowboys - Source: Getty

Despite the new deal between Lamb and the Cowboys already signed, its timing could lead to Lamb having the first production decline of his career. Since the wide receiver came to the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, he has improved statistically each year. However, if he starts slow this season, he will have to be perfect the rest of the way to continue the pattern of growth.

With the bar already set at about 1,750 yards and 12 touchdowns this year for CeeDee Lamb, any missed time or sluggish games could hurt his overall total production in comparison.

It will give analysts plenty of ammunition to point the finger at Jerry Jones for delaying the conclusion of the deal. Of course, Jones might be able to use the decreased total in the next round of negotiations as well.

Will CeeDee Lamb be 100% ready for Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns?