Deontae Lawson update: Injured Tide LB to miss rest of season
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson is set to miss the remainder of the season due to a significant leg injury, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported. Lawson left the Oklahoma game with an injury and did not return to the Crimson Tide’s 24-3 road defeat.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer later confirmed the news in his Monday press conference.
“We’ll lose him for the season with a season-ending injury,” DeBoer said. “Just an amazing leader, chosen team captain by the team. I can see not just what he means to us on the field but just the love that our players have for him, especially those that have been through multiple years.
“Seeing what he pours into it, I know we all feel for him. We appreciate everything he’s been doing. Obviously, you greatly miss what he does on the football field, but love having that guy in the locker room leading your team. So thinking about him.”
Lawson was slow to get up after making a tackle for no gain in the second quarter. He needed help off the field from members of Alabama’s training staff. The redshirt junior spent time in the sideline medical tent before heading to the locker room with 5:51 left in the first half. Lawson watched the second half of the UA road loss to Oklahoma in street clothes.
Lawson is the Crimson Tide’s defensive signal-caller and wears the green-dot helmet, which means he can hear from defensive coordinator Kane Wommack until the play clock gets below 15 seconds. With Lawson out, Justin Jefferson stepped in, donned the green dot and manned the middle of the defense alongside Alabama’s top tackler Jihaad Campbell.
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On Monday, Wommack discussed what’s next at inside linebacker.
“Justin Jefferson stepped up in the second half and really did a good job of going in and playing the Stinger, the weakside position for us,” Wommack said. “We’ve got some young guys that I think are trending in the right direction right now with Jeremiah Alexander and Justin Okoronkwo, Cayden Jones.
“Those guys are doing a nice job to where they’re obviously going to have to continue that, and this week is going to be really important. But like everybody, you’re going to have some of these injuries that you have to deal with, and it’s got to be a next man up mentality.”
Lawson is the latest Alabama player to be ruled out for the rest of the season, joining safety Keon Sabb, wide receiver/punt returner Cole Adams and outside ’backer Que Robinson.
Alabama will close out the regular season on Saturday, November 30, when it hosts in-state rival Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Iron Bowl will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT (ABC).
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