Lawrence’s Limited Playing Time Raises Questions

Despite not seeing much action in the second half of last Sunday’s 34-27 loss to the Lions, Dexter Lawrence’s impact was felt right away in overtime. The moment Jahmil Gibbs ran for a 69-yard touchdown on the first play, it became clear how crucial Lawrence’s presence was on the field.

It was evident that Lawrence was eager to play.

“I mean, you could see him almost in tears on the sideline. He just wanted to be out there with his teammates,” interim head coach Mike Kafka commented.

It’s a tough spot for any player. Among the troubles this season, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen noted the team didn’t have the best personnel in place, a situation he was criticized for. This reminded some fans of a defensive collapse back in Week 2 against Dallas when Lawrence also missed an important play. So, it was rather surprising to see him absent from his typical nose tackle position at the start of overtime in Detroit.

Some might question whether Bowen made a tactical misstep by not letting Lawrence play. However, the answer isn’t so straightforward.

“I didn’t play well in this game,” Lawrence admitted, revealing that his playing time was cut short after a lackluster first quarter.

Lawrence acknowledged, “They let me get up on third down and make some good rushes. As a competitor, I always want to be on the field, but I trusted the game plan.” This mindset is likely why he was on the field for just 31 of the 68 defensive snaps.

Coach Kafka explained that Lawrence’s injury had “flared up again during the fourth quarter.” Had the drive continued, he might have played more. Unfortunately, the Lions scored swiftly, leaving Lawrence out of the equation.

“He was dealing with this injury and doing his best to help us,” Kafka noted. “So we decided to use him in passing situations like second-and-long or third-and-long to maximize his impact, even in limited snaps. It was the right call, and I commend Dexter for toughing it out, despite the pain.”