A pass-rushing specialist and one of Cincinnati's most talented young defenders, Lawson enters his fourth season with the Bengals ... Played in 12 games in 2019, one year after a suffering season-ending right knee injury (torn ACL) ... Battled a hamstring injury the first half of 2019, but production picked up second half of season, with 20 of his team-high 22 QB hits and four of his five sacks all coming in the final eight games ... Among Cincinnati's most productive defenders down the stretch in 2019, recording two sacks and nine QB hits over the final two games ... In 2017, led all NFL rookies with 8.5 sacks, a total that also tied for second-most ever by a Bengals rookie (DE Carlos Dunlap had 9.5 in 2010; DE Justin Smith had 8.5 in '01) ... Enters 2020 with 14.5 career sacks and three multi-sack games ... Listed at LB as a rookie in 2017, before making switch to DE in '18.
Career transactions: Selected by Cincinnati in fourth round of 2017 NFL Draft (116th overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 5-7-17.
2019 highlights: Played in 12 games, with two starts (LDE in Game 6 at Baltimore, RDE in Game 13 at Cleveland) ... Active DNP in Game 3 at Buffalo, and inactive for Games 4 and 7-8 (all due to hamstring injury) ... Totaled 23 tackles, including five sacks, and had a team-high 22 QB hits ... Production picked up second half of season, after recovering from hamstring injury, as 20 of his team-high 22 QB hits and four of his five sacks all came in final eight games ... Recorded an eight-yard takedown of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in Game 6 at Baltimore ... In game 10 at Oakland, sacked Derek Carr on a third down to force a Raiders punt ... In Game 13 at Cleveland, recorded a takedown of Baker Mayfield that contributed to a Browns three-and-out ... Recorded two sacks of Mayfield, along with two additional QB hits, in season finale vs. Cleveland, and was part of defensive effort that held Browns RB Nick Chubb, who entered the game as the NFL's leading rusher (5.0 yards per carry, 99.6 yards per game), to just a 3.2-yard average and 41 total rushing yards.
Previous seasons: 2017—Played in 16 games, with one start at RDE ... Totaled 16 tackles, including 8.5 sacks ... His 8.5 sacks led all NFL rookies, ranked second on the team and was just one shy of DE Carlos Dunlap's Bengals rookie record of 9.5, set in 2010 ... Named to Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team ... Recorded season-high four tackles on Sept. 24 at Green Bay, including 2.5 sacks of Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, making him second Bengal rookie ever to record at least 2.5 sacks in a game (DE Justin Smith had three in 2001) ... Recorded sack of Bills QB Tyrod Taylor in fourth quarter of one-score game on Oct. 8 vs. Buffalo ... On Oct. 29 vs. Indianapolis, sacked Colts QB Jacoby Brissett with two minutes left in fourth quarter of one-point game ... Had 1.5 sacks on Nov. 26 vs. Cleveland, including one in the fourth quarter ... On Dec. 24 vs. Detroit, sacked Lions QB Matthew Stafford on fourth down with one minute left, giving the Bengals possession and securing a victory. 2018—Played in first seven games ... Suffered ACL tear in his right knee in Game 8 vs. Tampa Bay ... Listed as DNP in Tampa Bay game, because injury occurred on his first snap as he was rushing passer, but play was blown dead due to pre-snap penalty ... Placed on Reserve/Injured list on Nov. 5, prior to Game 10 ... Finished season with six tackles on defense, including one sack ... On Sept. 30 at Atlanta, sacked Falcons' QB Matt Ryan in the fourth quarter to force a FG attempt.
College: Played in 33 career games, with 20 starts, in four years (including redshirt year in 2014) at Auburn ... Totaled 67 tackles, including 24 TFLs (19th in Auburn history) and 14 sacks ... Two-time team captain (2015 and '16) ... Started 13 games as a redshirt-junior in 2016, with 30 tackles (13.5 TFLs, nine sacks), en route to All-SEC First Team honors (coaches) ... Torn ACL caused him to miss 2014 season (redshirt), and a hip injury in '15 opener vs. Louisville limited him the rest of that season ... As a freshman, played in all 14 games for SEC champion Auburn team that played in National Championship game, logging 20 tackles, including 7.5 TFLs, with four sacks and two FFs.
Personal: Hometown is Alpharetta, Ga. ... Attended Milton High School, where he was considered one of the top HS prospects in the country regardless of position ... Recorded 78 tackles as a senior, including 44 TFLs, with 27 sacks ... Played in the 2013 Under Armour High School All-America Game ... Also participated in wrestling and track in HS ... Father, Carl Sr., played fullback at Georgia Tech ... Communications major at Auburn.