What Carl Lawson's Season-Ending Injury Means For the Jets

Carl Lawson's season-ending injury is an incalculable loss for the New York Jets. 

The defensive end tore his Achilles tendon on Thursday during a joint practice with the Packers in Green Bay, ending his first season in green and white before it even began.

Lawson was poised to be the face of a dominant pass rush in 2021, showcasing his ability to get to the quarterback off the edge by racking up sacks all throughout training camp.

Factor the 26-year-old's fit in Robert Saleh's defensive scheme with the potential he showed in Cincinnati last season—credited with a league-best 26 QB knockdowns—and this truly could've been a career year for the Auburn product. 

That's a moot point now, though. New York no longer has the type of premier pass rusher that Lawson was shaping up to be.

So, where do the Jets go from here? 

The first step is coming to terms with the bitter reality of the situation. Lawson is irreplaceable and his absence is in all likelihood going to have an adverse effect on the rest of New York's defense. 

It means quarterbacks won't have to worry about their blind side as much, providing signal-callers with precious seconds in the pocket to dismantle the Jets' inexperienced secondary down the field. It also means Quinnen Williams, or whoever else is playing well up front, will get double-teamed more.

Now, that's not to say New York doesn't have depth on the defensive line. Williams could take another big step forward in 2021 while returning linemen like Folorunso Fatukasi and John Franklin-Myers can hold it down as well.

You can even throw names like Bryce Huff—who had a strong preseason opener last weekend—Nathan Shepherd and Jabari Zuniga into that conversation.

Plus, Lawson wasn't the only pass rusher that was brought in this offseason. New York also added Sheldon Rankins, Vinny Curry and Ronald Blair in free agency. In other words, with the depth this team has at that position, we'll see a rotation and defensive line by committee.

"We can truly come at them in waves," Saleh said earlier this month before Lawson's injury. "We usually activate eight guys on defense on the D-line, and we want all eight playing a significant amount." 

There's always a chance the Jets could sign another edge rusher, or even try to trade for one, but with that aforementioned depth, it makes sense for Saleh's squad to run with what they have left.

It won't be the same without Lawson, but it's certainly a start.

MORE:

• 'It's a Great Challenge': Joint Practice With Packers to Benefit Jets on Both Sides of Ball
• Zach Wilson Learns From Idol Aaron Rodgers at Joint Practice: 'I'm a Big Fanboy'
• Jets' Offensive Lineman Alex Lewis Suddenly Retires From NFL

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