Carl Lawson vows to be ‘back better.”
The Jets defensive end ruptured his Achilles during a joint practice with the Packers on Thursday and will miss the entire 2021 season, the team announced. The 26-year-old free-agent pickup doesn’t want Jets’ fans feeling sorry for him — and themselves — after Lawson was touted as unblockable in training camp. His loss is a big blow to the Jets’ hopes this season.
“For those who truly know me know that this is like a flesh wound to me,” Lawson wrote on his Instagram account late Thursday night in his first comments about his injury. “Gods with me, I control what I can control so I’m always back better. Loved ones, friends and fans please keep your chins up so I can raise mines higher.”
The Jets signed Lawson to a three-year, $45 million contract in March after he spent four seasons with the Bengals. This is not Lawson’s first major injury. He tore his left ACL at Auburn in 2014 and tore his right ACL with the Bengals in 2018.