Deontae Lawson injury update: Report reveals severity of leg injury vs. Oklahoma

Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a significant leg injury in the Crimson Tide’s 24-3 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Lawson left the game in the second quarter with the injury and didn’t return.

It’s a major loss for Alabama. Lawson is a team captain and boasts the second-most tackles on the team this season with 76. He also has tallied two sacks, four passes defended, a forced fumble and an interceptions in the 2024 campaign.

Additionally, Lawson is Alabama’s defensive signal-caller and dons the green dot on his helmet, which means he is the sole player on defense who has in-helmet communications with defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.

Before leaving the game against Oklahoma on Saturday, Lawson recorded two tackles. Now, the redshirt junior won’t be able to add another statistic to his totals this season. After the loss, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer revealed how Lawson’s injury affected the team.

“Any time you lose a great player like Deontae, it’s gonna affect you,” DeBoer said. “His leadership, he is the guy that makes a lot of the calls on the football field. Just seems like he’s always in control. We have trust and belief in the guys that come in with [Justin Jefferson]. Those guys take a lot of reps, and he’s played a lot this year, too. 

“But Deontae, any of your captains, your top players, it’s gonna hurt you and it’s gonna hurt you just demeanor emotionally but also just the execution on the field.”

Following Lawson’s injury, Justin Jefferson entered the game and served as the team’s defensive signal-caller. This is Jefferson’s second season with Alabama after joining the team ahead of the 2023 campaign. Before transferring to Alabama, Jefferson played two seasons at Pearl River Community College.

Lawson has one year of eligibility remaining. He played four games his freshman year but ultimately preserved a year of eligibility. Alas, it’s unclear whether Lawson will return next season or enter his name in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Lawson certainly wouldn’t have trouble garnering interest from a professional organization. In ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s latest NFL draft Big Board, he named Lawson the No. 5 off-ball linebacker who will be available in the upcoming draft.

For now, Alabama can only support Deontae Lawson as he recovers while preparing for its next opponent. On Saturday, the Crimson Tide and Auburn will square off in the Iron Bowl at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ABC.