Another Piece Set to Return for Already Potent Pass Rush

Veteran defensive end slated to make his season debut vs. Cowboys in Dallas

As if the New York Jets' pass rush wasn't fierce enough in a 22-16 season-opening win, it's about to welcome a battle-tested veteran back into the fold.

Edge rusher Carl Lawson, who was fighting through a back issue during the month of August, will likely be active when the Jets take the field for their Week 2 road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on September 17 at 4:25 pm ET.

"Anticipating him being up this week," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh on Wednesday. 

The 28-year-old Lawson, who did not appear in any of Gang Green's four preseason games, returned to practice on August 29. Although he was never on the Week 1 injury report, Lawson surprisingly popped up as a gameday inactive against the Buffalo Bills.

"I felt like our Friday practice was a little on the high side with the physicality and all that stuff and just didn’t think it’d be a good idea to practice him, play a game, short week, play another game with the amount of time he had off," explained Saleh of the decision to make Lawson inactive on Monday night. "So, this [Cowboys Week] would be Week 1 for him."

Lawson started all 17 games last year in what was his first season back after Achilles surgery.  He recorded 7.0 sacks and delivered 24 QB hits for the NFL's fourth-ranked defense in 2022.

Without Lawson, the Jets still managed to harass Bills' quarterback Josh Allen. Edge rushers Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers each made one sack apiece.

In addition to totaling five quarterback takedowns, the pass rush forced Allen into ill-advised throws that resulted in three interceptions for strong safety Jordan Whitehead. 

Allen committed a fourth turnover on a rushing attempt up the middle with 4:55 to play in the fourth quarter. Defensive lineman Micheal Clemons poked the ball free and All-Pro tackle Quinnen Williams recovered it at the Bills' 27, setting the stage for a go-ahead field goal from Greg Zuerlein.

The four takeaways were the most by any NFL team during the 2023 season's opening weekend. Meanwhile, Allen was limited to only 4.7 yards per pass attempt. 

"I think we're just scratching the surface of what we can be," said Williams on Thursday.

The Jets' defensive line rotation has only gotten deeper since 2022 and Lawson's return will add more potency to the mix. Offseason addition Quinton Jefferson accounted for 2.0 sacks and three QB hits from his interior position.

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