Two of Carl Lawson's three seasons in New York were upended by injury and other factors. The pass rusher missed 28 games over three years.
After languishing on the open market, the 29-year-old joined the Dallas Cowboys late last week. Given his injury issues and zero sacks generated last season while failing to break into the rotation, there are questions about how much the pass rusher has left in the tank.
From his vantage point, plenty.
"A lot. I feel like a younger player," Lawson said, via the team's official website. "My potential hasn't been reached due to injury, or situation, or teams that I've been on that haven't clicked. ... I've been a very effective pass rusher in this league, but on losing teams. So this is an opportunity to get on a team that can be up in games and I can show my ability, now that I'm healthy, so I'm excited."
Lawson said he had other opportunities but chose to join Dallas.
"I had a bunch of other opportunities. I was more so this offseason, looking for the right opportunity," Lawson explained. "I didn't want something that wouldn't be the best situation for me and the team I was going into. This situation -- the stars aligned."
Pun likely intended.
Lawson reunites with Cowboys defensive run game coordinator Paul Guenther, Cincinnati's defensive coordinator during the edge rusher's rookie campaign in 2017.
"Pauly just let me go, and it was to use my abilities to the fullest," Lawson said. "… Now we're reunited and I'm excited about that."
Lawson, who earned seven sacks during his last full season in 2022, will join a rotation behind Pro Bowlers Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence. If he truly does have a lot left in the tank, the Cowboys defensive front will be a menace on quarterbacks.
