The Dallas Cowboys are desperate to get back on track this week as they take on the Washington Commanders in an NFC East matchup with massive divisional implications. But here’s the big headline: CeeDee Lamb is finally back. And while that’s huge news for Dallas fans, Rich Eisen has one very specific request for head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

“CeeDee Lamb’s coming back,” he began on The Rich Eisen Show. “The one thing I will just say, listen, I don’t usually tell coaches what to do. But I’ll just address the camera to Brian Shottenheimer. Coach, the play in the playbook that has CeeDee Lamb running the football, let’s just take that out and rip it to shreds, never to be seen again,” he added.

Honestly, he’s got a point.

Lamb is an elite wide receiver, but he’s always been more of a catcher than a runner. Over five seasons, he’s totaled just 388 rushing yards. He averaged just 4.7 rush yards per game last year. But Eisen’s concern stems from a protection perspective rather than his ability.

Cowboys fans still remember how Lamb got hurt in the first place. It was Week 3. He’d just come off back-to-back 100-yard games to open the season when Brian Schottenheimer decided to get creative. On a carry out of the backfield, Lamb took a hit from linebacker Noah Sewell, who landed awkwardly on the back of his legs.

The result was an ankle sprain that has kept the wide receiver sidelined till now. Schottenheimer defended the play-calling afterward, saying he wouldn’t change a thing.

“Absolutely not,” the coach said. “You call passes and runs for people and try to get them the ball. It’s unfortunate, but we’re gonna still call quarterback runs with Dak at times. You hate to see it happen, but no. No second thoughts,” he added.

But the fans don’t want to risk it. After all, no one wants to see their WR1 risk his season taking handoffs between the tackles. Just let the man do what he does best: run routes and catch the football. That is what’s getting them excited this week.

CeeDee Lamb’s return is not the end of the Cowboys’ worries

CeeDee Lamb’s return is a massive boost for a Dallas team sitting at 2-3-1 and looking to stop the Commanders from potentially tying the Philadelphia Eagles for the top spot in the NFC East (depending on what Jalen Hurts and Co. fare against the Minnesota Vikings).

While Lamb was sidelined, George Pickens handled the WR1 responsibilities, and he couldn’t have done the job any better. His nine-catch, 168-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6 was one of the most impressive WR displays in the league so far.

In total, Pickens now has 32 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns this season. So now, with Lamb back and Pickens continuing to ball, Dallas might finally have what every team dreams of: two legitimate WR1s. These two could be absolutely lethal together. You could go as far as saying this might be the best WR pairing in the league. And with quarterback Dak Prescott putting up MVP numbers as well, it’s safe to say that the offense is more than just sorted.

But the Cowboys still have the defense to figure out.

They’re dead last in yards allowed per game (411.7) and fourth worst in the league against the run (142.2 yards/game). Last week, they got torched by Rico Dowdle, who rushed for 183 yards. And there’s no reason to think that the Commanders are going to go any easier on them. They are placed second in rushing yards per game (151) with quarterback Jayden Daniels and rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt having combined for a total of 520 rushing yards.

Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has made it clear that nothing is off the table to get the defensive unit to the level it needs to be at. This game is as important as any to show his doubters that he has a legitimate plan to back up his intent. There’s only so much patience that the Cowboys can afford.