The Jets defense suffered a massive loss on Thursday when Carl Lawson left practice on a cart.
Gang Green’s worst fears were later confirmed: the defensive end ruptured his Achilles, thus ending his first season with the Jets before it could ever begin. A dominant force in the trenches throughout the summer, Lawson is now sidelined after signing a three-year, $45 million deal over the offseason.
Recovering from an Achilles injury — especially a rupture — is no easy task. But Lawson, who has exuded confidence in his brief time with the Jets, does not appear dejected about his situation.
Instead, Lawson said the season-ending injury was “like a flesh wound to me” in a recent Instagram post. The pass rusher also wrote about coming back better than he was.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSxy8UUNEq-/
One reason Lawson may appear unfazed: he’s experienced — and recovered from — serious injuries before. Lawson tore his left ACL at Auburn in 2014. He then tore his right ACL in 2018 while a member of the Bengals.
He returned to Auburn in 2015 and recorded three sacks over seven games before enjoying a monster 14-sack campaign in his final season with the Tigers. Lawson returned from his second ACL tear to play in 12 games with the Bengals in 2019. He recorded five sacks that year before adding another 5.5 last season while playing in all 16 games for Cincinnati.
Lawson’s latest road to recovery will be grueling, but the 26-year old has been through similar situations and has age and talent working in his favor. If all goes well, he should get to put the latter on display in green and white next season.
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