Jets Lose Lawson for the Year with Achillies Tear

 It has not been a good week so far for the New York Jets up in Green Bay. 

On the second and final day of joint practice between the Jets and Packers before their preseason clash on Saturday afternoon, Jets defensive end Carl Lawson ruptured his left achillies tendon. He is done for the season. 

Lawson injured his leg during a red zone period between the two teams according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. 

This is a huge loss for the Jets, who signed Lawson as their premiere pass rusher this past off-season via free agency.  New York signed Lawson to a three-year $45 million deal, which at the time was viewed as a gamble considering Lawson had never before been a top flight pass rusher in his time with the Cincinnati Bengals.

However, Lawson was reportedly having a very good camp this summer, and expectations were sky high for the 26-year old out of Auburn, who was featured extensively in the franchise's "One Jets Drive" season premiere last week.  

Lawson is no stranger to injuries. He suffered a left ACL tear in 2014 while at Auburn, and tore his right ACL with the Bengals two years ago in 2018. His best season in the NFL came in 2017, his rookie year, where he recorded 8.5 sacks. However injuries and lack of playing time cut into his production the past couple years in Cincy. 

Lawson wasn't the only Jet to go down with a season ending injury. The Jets, who were already shorthanded in the secondary lost safety Zane Lewis to a MCL sprain and torn Patella tendon in his knee. 

Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (knee) and wide receiver Denzel Mims (hip) suffered minor scraps in practice with Green Bay. 

So in a summer that has been dominated by the quality of play of rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, the Jets now enter the season with their first real bout of adversity.