The biggest heartbreak in the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions wasn’t the scoreboard. It was watching star wideout CeeDee Lamb’s exit with a concussion after his head slammed the turf on a third-quarter play. But now, head coach Brian Schottenheimer has issued a four-word update that sparks hope for Dallas’ remaining regular-season matchups.

“Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said WR CeeDee Lamb (concussion) is ‘doing good. Progressing nicely,’” reports The Athletic’s Jon Machota.

What’s even more promising is that Lamb’s got time on his side. Thursday night games always create a scheduling quirk, and this one works in Dallas’ favor. Their Week 15 matchup is against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, December 15. That’s a 10-day gap, which gives Lamb extra runway to clear protocol without rushing. No need to cut corners, especially for an offensive star dealing with a head injury.

Schottenheimer’s optimism isn’t just coach-speak. Rest is the immediate requirement according to the league’s five-stage protocol after suffering the hit. Once he’s symptom-free, he’ll be back to some light exercise. If all goes well, he gets upgraded to non-contact practice and eventually a full participant. That 10-day gap couldn’t have come at a better time. If Schottenheimer sounds positive, it’s because Lamb is moving through the protocol well.

Dallas needs its offensive centerpiece back. But they need him healthy more than they need him Sunday. Player safety isn’t negotiable, even with playoff position slipping away. Furthermore, if Lamb fails to clear the protocol before Week 15, Dallas has another weapon primed and ready to go: George Pickens.

Pickens making things easier for CeeDee Lamb & Co.

When Lamb returns, he’ll be walking into a completely different offensive setup. Dallas would want to keep him as safe as possible since they still have a slim playoff margin. And with George Pickens, they could catch a massive break.

George Pickens has been forcing defenses into impossible decisions all season. Since the Cowboys acquired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers, defensive coordinators have had field days trying to scheme around the combination of Lamb and Pickens.

Week 14 against the Lions saw it play out on a grand scale. Pickens dealt with double coverage all game, leaving room for other stars to make plays. Pickens logged his second-worst season record with 5 catches and 37 yards, sure, but even former NFL quarterback Alex Smith saw what Pickens brought to the table.

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“This guy got doubled all game. And when I mean double, I mean cloud. A corner at hard inside at the line of scrimmage, safety on top,” Smith said, noting the attention Pickens got from the Lions’ defense. “CeeDee Lamb. There’s a reason he got so many targets in that first half. There was no help with him. It was man-to-man with no help for him all day.”

If Lamb clears the protocol, the Vikings’ defense will face this puzzle once again. Double Lamb, and Pickens wins. Shade coverage toward Pickens and Lamb operated freely underneath. Cover both, and franchise quarterback Dak Prescott finds Ryan Flournoy to bring it home. There’s no good answer.

For now, we just have to wait and see if Lamb can clear the protocol. If not, it’s Pickens’ day to shine.