During the Dallas Cowboys‘ preseason match against the Los Angeles Rams, CeeDee Lamb was involved in a highly uncommon sideline interference penalty despite not playing in the game. The incident occurred on the sidelines when a referee running along the out-of-bounds line collided with Lamb, who was standing in a restricted area near the Cowboys’ bench.

Lamb had been watching and encouraging the team from the sideline when the official accidentally ran into him. Despite the contact being unintentional, the referee flagged Lamb for sideline interference, a penalty rarely seen in <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL games but clearly defined by the rules.

Referee Alex Moore Explains the Sideline Interference Call

Alex Moore, the NFL referee involved in the play, spoke with PFWA Pool Reporter Gary Klein to clarify the situation. Moore described that Lamb was standing in the restricted white border area, which is reserved solely for officials to perform their duties safely. When Moore ran into Lamb, the forceful contact within this designated zone triggered an automatic foul for sideline interference.

Moore stated,

“It’s a sideline interference. CeeDee Lamb was standing in the restricted white border area, which is our area to officiate the game. The official on the play was focused solely on doing his job and he ran into CeeDee Lamb, who was standing in that restricted area. That’s what happened, and with that contact, it’s an automatic foul.”

He acknowledged the rarity of such calls, noting that typically no one stands that far into the restricted zone, especially in a way that results in significant contact. Moore said,

“It’s more of a rare situation. Normally, we don’t have anybody standing that deep into the restricted area, or that type of forceful contact. So, it is a rare occurrence, but it does happen from time to time.”

When asked if the Cowboys understood the rationale behind the penalty, Moore confirmed that the team was aware of the rules governing the sideline and the restricted border area. He emphasized,

“Absolutely. It’s something that everybody is aware of. That white area is our area to work safely.”

Context Behind Lamb’s Sideline Presence and Cowboys’ Player Usage

CeeDee Lamb was not active in the game as part of a broader strategy by the Dallas Cowboys to rest key starters during the preseason. Alongside Lamb, other prominent players such as Dak Prescott and George Pickens also did not participate on the field. This approach is common among NFL teams aiming to protect their core players from injury before the regular season kickoff.

The Cowboys are scheduled to face the Baltimore Ravens in their next preseason game, where team management will likely decide whether to continue resting important players or increase their preseason reps. Lamb’s sideline penalty, while unfortunate, did not result in any injury, allowing him to remain healthy for the upcoming season.

Significance and Future Implications of the Incident

The sideline interference penalty involving CeeDee Lamb highlights how even off-field positioning can impact the flow and rules of an NFL game. Officials rely on clearly defined restricted zones to perform their duties safely, and players standing in these areas risk automatic penalties, regardless of intent. While this call is rare, it serves as a reminder to players and teams about the importance of staying outside the officials’ workspace.

Since the penalty occurred during the preseason, it holds no bearing on the Cowboys’ regular-season record but underscores how closely the NFL enforces sideline conduct. Moving forward, teams may emphasize educating their players and staff on maintaining proper sideline positioning to avoid similar fouls. The incident also reinforces the delicate balance referees must maintain between monitoring play and navigating the confined spaces near the field.