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Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is not in attendance for the first day of the mandatory minicamp, coach Mike McCarthy confirmed.
A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Lamb is not expected to attend the three-day minicamp. As a result, Lamb faces a fine of $16,953 for missing the first day of the camp. If he does not report for the final two days, he could be fined more than $101,000 for the three-day absence. The Cowboys have the discretion as to whether to enforce the fine when Lamb reports, according to the collective bargaining agreement.
The Cowboys have said they want to sign Lamb to a contract extension and the Pro Bowler, who set team records for catches (135) and yards (1,749) in 2023, has said he wants to remain with the Cowboys. He did not take part in the voluntary portion of the offseason program, but he has had throwing sessions with quarterback Dak Prescott off-campus.
On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Justin Jefferson to a four-year, $140 million extension that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. Sources told Schefter that the deal included $110 million guaranteed and $88.743 million due at signing.
Jefferson and Lamb have similar statistics. In 60 games, Jefferson has 392 receptions for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns. In 66 games, Lamb has 395 catches for 5,145 yards and 32 touchdowns. Both players have been named to the Pro Bowl three times and have one first-team All-Pro designation to their credit.
With a number of wide receiver deals that have been signed in recent weeks, including the Philadelphia Eagles‘ A.J. Brown ($32 million annually), and Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30 million), a path to Lamb signing the richest wide receiver deal in Cowboys history appears to be set.
At the time of the draft, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he wanted to see some “more leaves fall,” when it came to receiver contracts.
The two sides have had conversations recently but not enough to have Lamb arrive for the mandatory minicamp.
The next deadline comes when the Cowboys are scheduled to report to training camp in Oxnard, California, on July 23. If Lamb does not report then, he would face fines of $40,000 per day.
