After leaving the Oklahoma game with an injury Saturday night, it has been confirmed that starting Alabama Crimson Tide inside linebacker Deontae Lawson will now miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
The news of Lawson missing the remainder of the season was reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel early Monday afternoon, and then confirmed by head coach Kalen DeBoer during his weekly press conference later in the day.
“We’ll lose him for the season with a season-ending injury,” DeBoer said. “Just an amazing leader. Chosen team captain by the team. I can see not just what he means to us on the field, but the love that our players have for him, especially those that have been through multiple years. Seeing what he pours into it, I know we all feel for him. We appreciate everything he’s been doing, and obviously you greatly miss what he does on the football field, but love having that guy in the locker room leading your team.”
Lawson, a multi-year starter at inside linebacker, was in the midst of a career-year with the Crimson Tide, holding a combined 76 tackles, seven TFL, two sacks, one INT, four PD, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery across 11 games.
In the absence of Lawson, the duo of Jihaad Campbell and Justin Jefferson will now start at inside linebacker this upcoming Saturday against Auburn.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack also commented on the loss of Lawson as well, as well as who will takeover the communication on the field in his place.
“When you lose a guy that really is your steady maker in the box, and does such a great job with the green dot communication, is such a leader for our guys, and a great communicator on the field, that’s tough,” Wommack said. “That’s a tough loss for sure, but I think our guys stepped up. Justin Jefferson stepped up in the second half, and really did a good job going in and playing the stinger, weak-side position for us. We’ve got some young guys that I think are trending in the right direction right now with Jeremiah Alexander, Justin Okoronkwo, and Cayden Jones, those guys are doing a nice job to where they’re obviously going to have to continue that, and this week is going to be really important. Like everybody, you’re going to have some of these injuries that you have to deal with, and it has to be a next-man-up mentality, and I think our guys have the right mindset in terms of what they’re required to do on game day.”
“Justin Jefferson has been doing that all season as kind of our No. 2 there at that position, and has done a really great job,” Wommack added. “Obviously Jihaad can do it, it’s just Jihaad plays so many different positions for us that it’s hard when a guys moving around like that for him to be the green dot communication. We have two guys that certainly can handle it, but it’s Justin will take the majority of that responsibility this week.”
Sources: Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a significant leg injury against Oklahoma. He went down with the injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. pic.twitter.com/tNxrKhabIY
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 25, 2024