Carl Lawson Injury: Updates on Auburn DE's Hip and Return

Auburn Tigers defensive end Carl Lawson is dealing with a hip injury suffered against Louisville that could force him to miss an "extended" period of time, per Jordan James of SEC Country. 

Continue for updates. 

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Lawson Facing Another Potentially Serious Injury

Tuesday, Sept. 22

"The injury is a little more serious than we originally thought," head coach Gus Malzahn said, per James. "We're hopeful to get him back before the season is out. He's obviously an impact player. It's been really tough on him, especially going through last season."

The redshirt sophomore managed four sacks as a freshman in 2013, but a torn ACL sidelined him for the entire 2014 campaign. 

The injury bug proceeded to strike Lawson again to start the 2015 season. Although he appeared in Auburn's season-opening win over Louisville, Lawson suffered a hip flexor injury in the second quarter that forced him to leave the game. Lawson spent more than a week on crutches nursing the injury, per AL.com's Brandon Marcello. 

Recurring injuries have been particularly disappointing for Lawson considering how diligently he rehabilitated following the ACL tear. 

"That guy, the amount that he works on and off the field is amazing," linebacker Kris Frost said in July, according to AL.com's James Crepea. "His work ethic really just propels everyone else forward and allows everyone really to get a feel for what they want to be."

So far this season, the former 5-star recruit has recorded one sack.

Since the Tigers defense has been exposed at times by fleet-footed quarterbacks this season, Malzahn could desperately use Lawson's athletic stylings to help set the edge and keep opposing passers scrambling. 

Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.com.