It could get worse before it gets better for Mike Zimmer.
It all went wrong for Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer in Week 2, but it's hard to put too much of the blame on him. Not only did the defense give poor effort on multiple occasions, including Alvin Kamara's long catch-and-run touchdown, but Dallas' defensive tackles got mauled by the Saints interior offensive line.
Fortunately Mike McCarthy has said the team has made an alignment adjustment to hopefully fix some of the defensive woes. It could help to make some personnel changes as well, like playing DeMarvion Overshown more than 18 snaps.
It also couldn't hurt to feature some new faces. One player Cowboys fans would like to see on the field is pass rusher Carl Lawson, who's yet to be elevated from the practice squad.
However, the Cowboys may not get the chance to play Lawson in any capacity after his former team suffered a devastating injury to its defensive line in Week 2.
Cowboys rumors: Jets could steal Carl Lawson from Dallas
The Jets escaped Tennessee with a win on Sunday, but it came at a price as blossoming edge rusher Jermaine Johnson suffered a torn Achilles. A first-round pick in 2022, Johnson broke out last year with 7.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 56 pressures and a 73.7 pass-rush grade, per Pro Football Focus.
Lawson suffered a back injury in preseason last year and it was Johnson who stole the veteran's starting role. By the time Lawson was fully healthy, he found himself on the periphery of the Jets' EDGE rotation.
The Jets' pass-rush was already struggling before Johnson's season-ending injury. It stands to reason they are in the market for a replacement and The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt (subscription required) floated Lawson as a possible target.
"If a deal with Reddick isn’t within reach, the Jets probably should explore adding a veteran from elsewhere," writes Rosenblatt. "Some notable free agents still available include Justin Houston (age 35), Yannick Ngakoue (29), Randy Gregory (31) and Shaq Lawson (30), a former Jet. [Carl] Lawson is on the Cowboys' practice squad.
Being that Lawson is on the practice squad, the Jets have jurisdiction to sign him straight to their active roster. Fortunately, Lawson doesn't look back fondly on his time in Florham Park. While an Achilles tear wiped out his 2021 season, he took his lack of playing time last year personally.
However, a path to meaningful snap could prompt a change of heart from Lawson. With Haason Reddick still holding out, Lawson would only have to compete with second-year man Will McDonald, vet journeyman Takk McKinley and former first-round pick Micheal Clemons, who has four sacks in 34 career games, for playing time.
It would be an enticing opportunity for Lawson. If the Jets come calling, Zimmer's already-thin defensive end group could become even more slender.
