Referee interaction leaves Cowboy player CeeDee Lamb penalized following a concerning impact
CeeDee Lamb's Unusual Encounter with a Referee during Cowboys' Preseason Debut
During the Dallas Cowboys' preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, a notable moment occurred off the field that involved star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Despite being inactive and dressed in street clothes, Lamb found himself in an unusual situation when he was accidentally hit by a sprinting sideline official.
In the second quarter of the game, Lamb was standing in the white paint area reserved for officials, watching a deep pass and signaling to his teammates. As he was doing so, an official running at full speed collided with him, knocking him down. The incident, captured on video and shared on Twitter by Sam Guzman on August 10, 2025, resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Lamb, negating a large gain created by a defensive pass interference call on Jonathan Mingo.
Fortunately, Lamb was uninjured in the collision and quickly returned to his feet, laughing about the moment with his teammates. The NFL later confirmed that Lamb would not be fined for the incident.
The incident did not have a significant impact on the game's outcome, as the Cowboys' key starters Dak Prescott and George Pickens were out during the preseason game. CeeDee Lamb, who was among the key starters, was on the sideline for the entire game, not making the stat sheet in the way he would have preferred.
Meanwhile, discussions about Micah Parsons' future continue to be a hot topic for the Dallas Cowboys. The incident involving Lamb and the referee was a rare instance where a player not in uniform made the stat sheet, adding to the unusual nature of the preseason matchup.
Despite the unexpected event, the preseason game between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams marked the start of the 2025 season for both teams, offering a glimpse into what the upcoming season may hold.
Rumors swirled regarding the future of the Dallas Cowboys' championship run, with the unusual collision between CeeDee Lamb and a sideline official during their preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams serving as a reminder of the unpredictability inherent in sports, particularly football. The incident, though causing a temporary stir, ultimately did not impact the team's performance or the players' health.
