The Arizona Cardinals’ defence took a significant blow on Friday when second-year pass rusher BJ Ojulari tore his ACL. Dan Bickley and Vince Marotta wonder if the Cardinals have any plans to replace the injured linebacker as the season approaches.

Video by Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports
Photos by Michael Reaves/Getty Images; Felisa Cárdenas/Arizona Sports; Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports.

ESPN’s Field Yates reports that the Arizona Cardinals worked out veteran edge rusher Carl Lawson on Wednesday.

Veteran edge Carl Lawson works out for Arizona Cardinals, per report

The 29-year-old free agent played 101 snaps with the New York Jets last season but struggled with a back injury before his contract was terminated in February.

Prior to that, Lawson was sidelined for the whole 2021 season due to a torn Achilles, but he rebounded in 2022 with 33 tackles, seven sacks, and 4.5 stuffs for New York.

Lawson has 74 games, 119 tackles, 27 sacks, and three forced fumbles in six seasons of play.

Arizona gave him a look because its front seven has concerns about its pass rush, particularly following second-year outside linebacker BJ Ojulari’s season-ending knee injury.

Lawson, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 265 pounds, would offer vast experience to the Cardinals, but he has a history of injuries.

He had his best season in terms of sacks (8.5 in a complete season) as a rookie with the Cincinnati Bengals before tearing his ACL and missing half of the 2018 season. He recorded five additional sacks in 12 games in 2019 and 5.5 in 16 games in 2020 before suffering an Achilles injury.