The Dallas Cowboys suffered a major setback as 2022 second-round draft pick Sam Williams sustained a season-ending injury. Williams tore his ACL during training camp drills, prematurely ending his second NFL season. To reinforce their weakened defensive line, Dallas will explore options in free agency.
According to NFL insider Ari Meirov, the Cowboys will evaluate former Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets defensive end Carl Lawson on Thursday. With Williams’ injury creating a void in the already thin defensive line, the NFC East team is considering Lawson as a potential key player for the 2024 season.
Dallas Cowboys: Bringing In Carl Lawson
Later this week, veteran NFL defensive end Carl Lawson will work out with the Dallas Cowboys. Lawson tore his ACL prior to the 2021 season while playing with the New York Jets for the previous three seasons. With nine TFLs, seven sacks, and 18 tackles in 2022, Lawson made a strong comeback. In addition, he contributed a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and 24 QB hits. Last season, Lawson made six appearances and had five tackles.
Before joining the Jets, Lawson, a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, spent his first four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Georgia native played in a rotational capacity during his initial three seasons, amassing 31 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks over 35 games. His breakout season came in 2020, when he achieved a career-high 36 tackles and 32 quarterback hits, along with 5.5 sacks, starting in 11 of 16 games.
Cowboys: DE Depth Chart
The loss of defensive end Sam Williams has significantly impacted the depth of the Dallas Cowboys’ edge rushing unit. Behind Demarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons, Dallas will have Marshawn Kneeland and Viliami Fehoko in backup roles. Kneeland, a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, notched 24.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks over his final three seasons with the Wyoming Cowboys. Fehoko, a fourth-round pick in 2023, did not record any stats last season.
As training camp begins, Dallas also has Durrell Johnson, Byron Vaughns, and Tyus Wheat working with the defensive ends. Wheat and Johnson, both undrafted free agents from the 2023 class, had limited impact last season with Wheat recording three tackles and Johnson none. Vaughns, although undrafted last season, delivered impressive college performances with the Baylor Bears and Utah State Aggies, totaling 74 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and nine sacks from 2021 to 2023.
Leave a Reply