Cowboys' Lamb ready to realize dream of assuming No. 1 WR role

CeeDee Lamb isn't shying away from the spotlight of being the Dallas Cowboys' No. 1 wide receiver in 2022.

"I've been ready," Lamb said, according to team reporter Rob Phillips. "That's just me and my competitiveness. That's in my nature. It's kind of how we grew up playing football. I'm always ready for my name to be called.

"It's a dream that I've always wanted to live, and now that I'm actually living it, I feel like it's my opportunity to fulfill it. So I'm looking at it as an opportunity."

The Pro Bowl wideout will enter the season as one of the Cowboys' more established targets following the departures of Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson.

Quarterback Dak Prescott endorsed Lamb as "the guy" to lead the receiving corps moving forward.

The third-year star is embracing the featured role and understands consistency is key to leading by example next season. "I want to be that guy," he said.

Lamb worked in tandem with Cooper during his first two campaigns but is now expected to sit atop a depth chart that also features Michael Gallup, James Washington, and rookie Jalen Tolbert.

The 23-year-old led Dallas with 79 receptions for 1,102 receiving yards, and six touchdowns while averaging 13.9 yards per catch in 2021.