Cedeelam’s Sideline Incident in Cowboys’ Preseason Game

Cedeelam made quite the impact during the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason opener, though it wasn’t in the way one might expect. His encounter with a sideline official led to a penalty for the Cowboys during their matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

It all happened in the second quarter, right after a play. Cedeelam, who was dressed casually, got too close to the field. Apparently, while he was signaling to his teammates, he inadvertently bumped into a sideline official, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty against Dallas.

The incident unfolded as Lamb watched a deep pass from Joe Milton intended for Jonathan Mingo, momentarily losing track of the sidelines. He clearly didn’t mean to interfere; it was just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Referee Alex Moore commented on the situation, saying, “It’s interfering with a side job.” He explained that Cedeelam was standing in an area designated for officials, which is usually strictly off-limits. Moore noted that, while it’s not common for someone to be so deep in that restricted area, such things do occasionally happen.

After the unexpected hit, Lamb appeared to brush it off, laughing it off with no apparent injuries. He seemed unfazed despite his collision with the official.

The biggest hit Cowboys WR Cedeelam has made tonight was on the sidelines… And from the officials. – Adam Schefter

The Cowboys were struggling at that point, facing challenges with execution. The penalty pushed them back 15 yards, complicating their drive, especially with Sean Jolly’s simultaneous pass interference on the Rams’ Mingo.

Moore mentioned that incidents like this are quite rare, adding, “Usually, no one is standing deep within that restricted area, but it happens sometimes.” It’s a good reminder that, in the chaos of the game, unexpected events can occur.

Coach Brian Schottenheimer expressed some disappointment over the incident, acknowledging it was unintentional but still emphasizing the need for better discipline. “We have to be better,” he said, noting that although Lamb seemed fine, such mistakes shouldn’t happen.

Most of the prominent players, including Lamb, Dak Prescott, and George Pickens, didn’t participate in this first preseason game, which also reflected a similar trend on the Rams’ side as many of their key starters were absent.