Linebacker, Carl Lawson addresses the media during the opening day of the 2022 New York Jets Training Camp in Florham Park, NJ on July 27, 2022. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jets DE Carl Lawson on playing in preseason game: 'I want it as bad as you want to breathe'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 8/11/22

It's been nearly 600 days since Carl Lawson has played in an NFL game. The defensive end missed the entire 2021 season after suffering a torn Achilles and while Friday's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles won't count in the standings, Lawson said he was amped up to be back on the field.

"I want it as bad as you want to breathe," Lawson said, quoting motivational speaker Eric Thomas.

Selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, the 27-year-old spent the first four seasons of his career with the AFC North squad, racking up 83 quarterback hits, 81 combined tackles and 20.0 sacks over 51 games (14 starts). Lawson signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the New York Jets in March 2021 before going down with the Achilles injury in August.

The Auburn product said he feels ready to return to game action and help a Jets franchise that hasn't made the playoffs in 12 years. Lawson is still taking things slowly though.

"I'm getting more and more comfortable, but nowhere near where I want to be," he said. "I had to take a few steps backward before I could go forward. I had to tell myself that's OK, that slowly but surely I'm getting there."

New York and Philadelphia are slated to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

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