The Cowboys have two star receivers, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and both players were on the bench during Dallas’ first series against the Las Vegas Raiders. This move was not announced before the game and was not reported anywhere. On the ESPN broadcast, reporter Lisa Salters said a Cowboys public relations representative said the benching was a “coach’s decision” and was not related to an injury. Salters said that when he asked if it was a punishment for violating team rules, that matter would have to be addressed with Schottenheimer after the game.
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Lamb and Pickens were not benched due to lack of production; both average over 80 yards per game. Lamb was on the field for the first play of the Cowboys’ second drive and Pickens came in for the second play. It seems that the transfer to the bench was for the first series of the game.
The Cowboys entered Monday night’s game with a 3-5-1 record and their playoff hopes dwindling. Any coach wants to set the tone in his first season on the job. It appears that was Schottenheimer’s goal with his brief benching of two of Dallas’ best players.