Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb absent as voluntary workouts open

Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was absent at the start of voluntary workouts Monday as his contract situation in Dallas threatens to become a dramatic offseason subplot.

Lamb enters the final year of his contract, a fifth-year option worth a guaranteed $17.199 million, after being named first-team All-Pro in 2023.

Lamb broke Michael Irvin's single-season franchise marks with an NFL-high 135 catches and 1,749 yards, adding a career-high 12 touchdown catches in 17 starts in 2023.

Dallas faces difficult footing in contract talks with multiple key players from a group that includes Lamb, quarterback Dak Prescott and pass rusher Micah Parsons.

Prescott is in the final year of a four-year, $160 million contract, and Parsons has one year left on his rookie contract but will be on the fifth-year team option in 2025.