lambpickens.jpg
Getty Images

Cowboys receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were benched for the opening series of Monday night's game against the Raiders. 

A Cowboys spokesperson told ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters that Lamb and Pickens missed first series due to a coach's decision rather than injury. They did not specify what prompted that decision. 

After the game, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said that the benching was due to "a couple things missed." 

Both players returned for the Cowboys' second drive and ultimately played big roles in Dallas' 33-16 win. Pickens caught 9 of 11 targets for 144 yards and a score, while Lamb pitched in with 5 receptions (on 7 targets) for 66 yards and a touchdown. 

As expected both players were asked afterward about starting the game on the bench. 

"Not going into depth on that honestly," Lamb said. "I'm not. I'm sorry. I'm not."

Pickens attributed the benching to the Cowboys' offensive game plan. Dallas' first drive featured two runs by Javonte Williams and a third-down pass from Dak Prescott. The Cowboys' offense mirrored that sequence when Pickens and Lamb came onto the field for the team's second drive. 

"I feel like certain personnels are built for the running game, we kind of knew that we could exploit them running wise," Pickens said. "So a lot of heavy personnel."

Based on Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' postgame comments, it doesn't appear that there is any lingering issues regarding Dallas' star receivers, especially Pickens. 

"Pickens was — I've never seen a performance like that," Jones said. "It was poetic the way that he was making those moves out there. It was like he was in an opera or something out there. A ballet,"