It has been one week since Cowboys owner Jerry Jones publicly told star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb that he was missed in the Dallas locker room amid a contract holdout that has turned into a summer-long saga. With the start of the regular season looming ever closer, the Cowboys are under pressure to get an extension done with Lamb‘s reps — and the player risks losing out on millions if he doesn’t sign.

Lamb, who is slated to make roughly $18 million in 2024, is set to become a highly sought-after free agent following the 2024 NFL season if he does not sign a new deal — or if the Cowboys refuse to trade him. The future for one of the NFL’s best receivers looks as murky as ever — and Lamb himself is muddying the waters.

Lamb’s new approach

Lamb on Monday took to Instagram and uploaded an image of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man to the platform’s Stories feature. The image, which shows Maguire pulling on a silver and black Spider-Man suit, immediately prompted speculation that Lamb was “going rogue” amid his stalled contract talks with the Cowboys.

Lamb watched this offseason as top receivers like A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill, and Justin Jefferson all signed new contracts that reset the market for pass-catchers. Despite posting a career year with 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, Lamb has been frustrated by the Cowboys’ lack of impetus to pay him top dollar.

The Spider-Man image is open to interpretation; it could mean that Lamb is planning to extend his holdout deep into the regular season if need be, and some on social media have even speculated that the suit’s colorway is a nod to the Las Vegas Raiders. But one thing seems clear: this saga is not over yet, and the standoff between Lamb and Jerry Jones could derail Dallas’ hopes of winning a Super Bowl this season.