Alabama football linebacker Deontae Lawson will return to the Crimson Tide for the 2025 season. But his actual return to the football field will take a bit longer.
According to an interview with Crimson Tide Sports Network, Lawson said he will be out "until fall camp" with the lower-body injury that ended his season in Alabama 's road loss to Oklahoma .
Lawson said he will "definitely try to stay around as much as I can" but said he expects not to be active until fall camp.
Lawson suffered a season-ending, lower-extremity injury against Oklahoma on Nov. 23 , one that needed surgery three days later. He missed Alabama's win against Auburn and its season-ending loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Lawson said he's "walking now" and still progressing through rehab and participating in modified workouts.
"You never really know how much you miss the game, for real," Lawson said. "And just miss doing team activities and stuff until you are really not doing it. I felt it before, but being out and knowing you're out for a minute, it really takes a toll on you. I really got closer to God. He's shown me a lot of different things. Just my mindset, my habits. He's definitely moving in my life right now and I'm enjoying the ride, even though I'm not really working out like I'm wanting to right now. Every day I'm attacking rehab like it's no tomorrow. I know I'll just be better from this."
Lawson is one of a handful of returning defensive playmakers including defensive linemen LT Overton , Tim Keenan III and Jah-Marien Latham , linebacker Justin Jefferson , safety Keon Sabb and cornerback Domani Jackson .
Through four seasons, Lawson has 194 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, five sacks and 12 pass deflections.
Alabama opens its 2025 season Aug. 30 against Florida State.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football LB Deontae Lawson shares injury update before 2025
