He is back!
Former New York Jets big-money free agent Carl Lawson has made an NFL comeback after signing with the Baltimore Ravens mid-season.
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz revealed that Lawson worked out for the team, and apparently, they liked what they saw, adding him to the roster.
“Lawson notched 5 sacks last season with the [Dallas] Cowboys and has been waiting for the right opportunity,” Schultz explained.
The former Auburn product appeared in 15 games for the Cowboys last year after starting on the practice squad. On top of his five sacks, he also registered 15 quarterback hits, a forced fumble, and four tackles for loss.
After his contract expired with Dallas this offseason, Lawson stayed at home, not joining an NFL team. This will be his first football activity since January 5.
Oh What Could Have Been…
The Jets inked Lawson to a three-year $45 million contract with $30 million of that guaranteed in 2021.
During that first offseason with the green and white, Lawson was “borderline unblockable,” NFL Insider Connor Hughes wrote for The Athletic in 2021.
“While Lawson had just 20 sacks in his first four years with the Bengals, and never more in a season than the 8 1/2 he compiled as a rookie, GM Joe Douglas viewed the former fourth-round pick as a player ready to break out,” Hughes explained.
“The reasoning? While Lawson lacked gaudy sack numbers, he hit the quarterback 24 times and hurried him 34 in 2020. That was the fourth-most pressures and second-most hits among defensive linemen, according to Pro Football Focus. Lawson led all defensive linemen with 32 quarterback hits the last two years,” Hughes added.
Things were looking great until they weren’t. During a joint practice in training camp with the Green Bay Packers, Lawson blew out his Achilles tendon that summer.
Lawson missed the entire year and was never the same. He bounced back from that injury to record seven sacks with the Jets in 2022, but it was never the same level of dominance.
Multiple Achilles injuries across Jets history leave fans wondering what could have been: Vinny Testaverde, Aaron Rodgers, Lawson, and likely more in the future.
A Decision That Still Likely Haunts the Jets
You can’t control injuries. Football is a violent sport, and those are going to happen. However, there were other pass-rushing options available in free agency that year.
The Bengals let Lawson go and replaced him with Trey Hendrickson from the New Orleans Saints. That decision worked out.
Hendrickson was a fine player in New Orleans. He only had one massive year, and that conveniently came right before free agency (13.5 sacks).
However, in Cincinnati, he took his game to another level. He signed a four-year $60 million contract in 2021. Across his five seasons with the team, he has collected 61 sacks, 120 quarterback hits, 12 forced fumbles, 13 pass deflections, and 56 tackles for loss.
He led the league in sacks last season (17.5), his second straight season with 17.5 sacks.
The Jets had a chance at Hendrickson, but opted for Lawson instead. Lawson is now on his fourth team in five years. While Hendrickson is on pace for his fifth double-digit sack season.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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