Colts Sign Veteran Pass Rusher Carl Lawson

The Indianapolis Colts have made their move for veteran pass-rush help, signing defensive end Carl Lawson to a contract on Wednesday, according to reporting from Jordan Schultz. Lawson worked out for the Colts earlier this week and has been on their radar for some time. The team previously hosted a trio of veteran edge rushers — Lawson, Preston Smith and David Ojabo — for tryouts in September after losing defensive end Micheal Clemons to a significant toe injury that landed him on injured reserve. The 31-year-old brings a long track record to a Colts defence that is searching for answers early in the 2026 season. Lawson entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017 and has compiled 32 career sacks across 90 games. His most productive season came as a rookie with 8.5 sacks in Cincinnati, and he posted 5.0 sacks in 15 games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. He spent most of last season on Baltimore's practice squad, appearing in just one game. Injuries have repeatedly interrupted his career, including a torn Achilles during his time with the New York Jets, but Lawson has remained a coveted situational rusher when healthy. The Colts opened the season 0-2 and have dropped nine consecutive games stretching back to last year, with their defence sitting at the bottom of the league in both points allowed and scoring defence. Head coach Shane Steichen has publicly backed defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, insisting the unit has to improve — and adding a proven veteran to the rotation is the front office's latest attempt to spark a turnaround.