The Cowboys were already on unstable footing when the third quarter took an even sharper turn.

Down by 18 and trying to piece together something that resembled a comeback, Dak Prescott took a shot at the end zone, giving CeeDee Lamb a chance to make one of those momentum-changing plays he has delivered so many times.

Instead, Lamb hit the ground awkwardly and stayed there, and everything around him seemed to pause.

At first, it looked like his left arm was the problem. Lamb reached for it while trainers hurried over, and he didn’t get up right away.

Once he did stand, he leaned into the staff for support, still holding the arm close to his body. But the real concern, as the replay showed, was the way his helmet bounced off the turf as he came down.

After a quick stop on the sideline, the trainers walked him into the locker room. Not long after, Dallas announced he was done for the night with a concussion, shutting down any chance of his return.

The Cowboys lose their focal point as medical staff move swiftly

For a player like Lamb, whose workload and importance grow heavier the deeper Dallas slides into the season, even a small setback has ripple effects. A concussion is an entirely different level of uncertainty.

Dr. Jesse Morse offered his early view on X shortly after the injury.

“Classic posturing secondary to a concussion for CeeDee Lamb,” he wrote.

“From his injury history on @InjuryExpertz this is his 3rd concussion. For those asking about next week. The good news is that the Cowboys don’t play until next Sunday, so he has 9 days.

“We won’t know until Wednesday how far along in the protocol he is. I view him as 50/50 to clear the protocol for next Sunday.”

It’s the kind of assessment that underscores how unpredictable concussion recovery can be. Nine days may feel like a generous window, but there is no timeline that guarantees anything. And this isn’t unfamiliar territory for Lamb, who has navigated the protocol before.