In a candid assessment of the Dallas Cowboys’ current performance, Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman did not hold back his criticism of the team’s wide receivers. Speaking on 96.7 The Ticket, Aikman labeled the receivers as “lazy” in their route running, raising serious concerns about their effort this season.
Aikman, a legendary figure in Cowboys history, expressed his frustrations regarding the routes being run by the wide receiving corps. “I think the routes are terrible. I think they run terrible routes. And I’ve thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee (Lamb) has got to improve in his route running,” Aikman stated, as reported by Jon Machota of The Athletic.
For a quarterback like Prescott, uncertainty about where receivers will be can make playing the position incredibly challenging. Aikman elaborated, saying, “As a quarterback, if you’re not certain where guys are going to be consistently, it’s hard to play the position. I see guys lazy coming off the line of scrimmage. Sometimes they run, usually if they do, it’s because they’re anticipating they’re going to get the football on that play, but if they’re not, they don’t.”
Troy Aikman on the Cowboys WRs😳👀 pic.twitter.com/5NsMZN0U37
— MartinTalkCowboys (@DAK_4_MVP) October 17, 2024
The criticism reflects a broader concern among fans and analysts regarding the Cowboys’ lack of offensive cohesion. Aikman emphasized that this issue isn’t just limited to one or two players. “It all ties together. I’m not impressed with that part of it,” he remarked.
While Aikman’s comments may sting, he clarified that he does not claim to speak for Prescott, stating, “Dak may say, ‘Hey, I think (their routes) are amazing.’ But as a former quarterback watching it, it’s gotta get a lot better.”
The Cowboys are currently on a much-needed bye week, providing them an opportunity to regroup and address the criticisms. With a crucial stretch of the season ahead, the team must focus on improving their performance, particularly in the passing game, to remain competitive in the NFC. As Aikman highlighted, the path forward requires enhanced effort and precision from the wide receivers if the Cowboys hope to succeed this season.
