The Dallas Cowboys have been tinkering with their roster ever since the start of training camp. Of course, this is true of just about every NFL team as players get hurt, underperform, or just do not fit well with the organization. The Cowboys, though, seem to be making a huge push to improve their team via free agent signing or trade with an urgency that is not typical for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
This is likely due to the fact that owner Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ front office did not attack free agency with their usual fervor this year. Granted, the upcoming contract extensions for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and/or Micah Parsons may have played a role in how little Dallas spent this summer.
That all being said, the Cowboys did make a substantial free agent signing last week, bringing in former Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets pass rusher Carl Lawson.
New Dallas Cowboys Pass Rusher Carl Lawson Is Thrilled to Join the Team
Lawson is coming off of a season in which he played just six games due to a lingering back injury. It was his second injury-plagued season in three years, but the 28-year-old pass rusher feels rejuvenated by joining a team that he believes can win a Super Bowl.
According to Jon Machota, who covers the Cowboys for The Athletic, Carlson said:
“I honestly feel like a younger player. My potential I honestly feel hasn’t been reached due to injuries or situations or teams that I’ve been on that just haven’t clicked or had quarterbacks playing, whether they’re hurt or just been on down offenses. I’ve been a very effective pass rusher in this league, but on losing teams.
“So the opportunity to possibly get on a team that can be up in games and I really can show my ability. And finally just get back and I’m healthy, so I’m excited. “… I’m just humbled and excited to be here and get to work. I’ve been in the game for a long time, but I do feel like a younger player, I just have never been able to put it all together.
“I know how talented I am and I just want to keep working and be able to bring that to an organization to win, and bring a Super Bowl back to Dallas.”
Lawson’s previous team, the Jets, went 7-10 in both seasons he played with them. His other former team, the Bengals, did make it to the Super Bowl in 2021, but he missed that entire season due to injury.
Dallas Cowboys Pass Rusher Carl Lawson Is Productive When Healthy
Lawson was a fourth-round pick by Cincinnati in the 2017 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he played in all 16 games and racked up 8.5 sacks despite playing just 42% of the defensive snaps.
In his second year, though, Lawson tore his ACL in Week Eight, which ended his season early.
The following year, he returned to play 12 games and recorded 5.5 sacks and 23 tackles. Then, in 2020, he played all 16 games, starting 11 of them, and had 5.5 sacks and 36 tackles.
Unfortunately, Lawson tore his Achilles during a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers during the 2021 preseason, which forced him to miss out on the Bengals’ run to the Super Bowl that season.
He signed with the Jets in 2022 and became an immediate starter on their fearsome defense. He played in and started all 17 games while racking up 7.0 sacks and 33 tackles.
As mentioned, Lawson was limited by a back injury last season that kept him out for most of the year.
If he can stay healthy in Dallas, he will be a huge force on defense.
