Jets acquire DE Shaq Lawson from Texans for sixth-round pick, source confirms

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The Jets replaced one Lawson with another.

After losing pass rusher Carl Lawson for the season, the Jets acquired defensive end Shaq Lawson from the Texans, a league source said. The Jets are sending a 2022 sixth-round pick that they acquired from San Francisco to Houston for Lawson.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas had been looking to bring in another edge rusher to fill the void left when Carl Lawson ruptured his Achilles during a joint practice in Green Bay nearly two weeks ago.

Robert Saleh’s 4-3 defensive front relies heavily on the D-Line disrupting the quarterback and making him uncomfortable. Big things were expected from Lawson, who the Jets gave a three-year, $45 million deal in the offseason.

His injury moved second-year end Bryce Huff into a tentative starting role with John Franklin-Myers on the other side.

The Jets also have Ronnie Blair, rookie Hamilcar Rashed Jr., Jabari Zuniga and Jeremiah Valoaga. Veteran defensive end Vinny Curry announced last week that he won’t play football this season due to a rare blood disorder.

Now they’ll turn to the 6-foot-3, 267-pound Shaq Lawson, who is not related to Carl.

The 19th overall pick in 2016 draft out of Clemson, Lawson played four seasons with Buffalo and was with Miami last year. But he hasn’t lived up to expectations.

In 64 career games, Lawson has 20.5 career sacks and six forced fumbles. His most productive season was with the Bills was 2019 when Lawson had 6.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits and 13 tackles for loss.

Lawson signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Dolphins in 2020. After one season in Miami (four sacks, four tackles for loss), Lawson was traded to Houston. He’s due $990,000 this season and $8.9 million next year. His contract can be voided in 2023.

Cuts and claims

With Tuesday’s deadline to get the roster to 53 nearing, Saleh said that "a lot of spots are close," and Douglas "is grinding his butt off to try to find the fine line that determines which ones make it, which ones don’t."

The Jets also could be active on the waiver wire. They’re No. 2 in the claim order.

"It’s like a second draft," Saleh said. "The wire is a great game to play, but it’s also a lot harder than people realize with regards to claiming people and letting go of someone that you’ve invested so much in."

Injury updates

Saleh expects left tackle Mekhi Becton (concussion protocol), running back La’Mical Perine (foot), receiver Denzel Mims (hip) and safety LaMarcus Joyner (back) to be available for Week 1 at Carolina.

"For the most part," Saleh said, "everyone who’s been banged up we’re very, very optimistic about Week 1.

Left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker doesn’t believe he missed out by not playing in the preseason because of a pec strain. He’s expected to start Week 1. "I feel ready to go regardless," Vera-Tucker said. "First game coming up, so I’m excited."