Deontae Lawson injury update: Kalen DeBoer updates recovery timeline on Alabama LB

After suffering a devastating knee injury in Alabama‘s second-to-last regular season game last year, Deontae Lawson opted to make use of his extra COVID year and run it back in 2025. Now, eight months removed from that season-ending setback vs. Oklahoma, the veteran Crimson Tide linebacker is back at practice, albeit with a large knee brace.

Second-year Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed Lawson’s status Wednesday, revealing the returning team captain will remain limited at least as far as the number of reps the graduate senior receives in Fall camp, but his trajectory is “going up.”

“His trajectory is going up. Deontae, his leadership is the thing that’s really come out. So that’s exciting,” DeBoer said Wednesday following the first day of preseason camp. “He’s going to be limited, just the number of reps, the volume I guess is the best way to put it, and what he can take as expected. And that was going to be the plan just with his timeline from the beginning.

“But it was great just having him out there. I think he feels really good about being out there. Mentally and physically, I think he’s in a really good spot. But there’s still progress to be made as we build toward the first game.”

Deontae Lawson responds to trash talk from Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos

Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos provided Alabama with some bulletin board material ahead of their Week 1 clash. The first-year Seminoles leader called out the Crimson Tide for not being the same program now as they were under Nick Saban. 

“I’m excited, man,” Castellanos told On3’s Pete Nakos in an exclusive interview, regarding Florida State’s clash with Alabama. “People, I don’t know if they know, but you go back and watch every first game that I played in, we always start fast. I dreamed of moments like this.

“I dreamed of playing against Alabama. They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”

As you can tell, that message probably doesn’t sit well with this season’s Alabama squad. Star linebacker Deontae Lawson was asked about Castellanos’ confidence at SEC Media Days during an appearance on SEC This Morning, and it’s evident the Crimson Tide’s defense is using the quarterback’s words as motivation.

“It definitely ignites us a little bit,” Lawson responded, regarding Castellanos’ fiery quote. “We can’t really think too much on that, because it’s just going to come down to what we do, and how we prepare that week. … All disrespect will be addressed accordingly.”

That’s some quote from Lawson. He didn’t take a shot at Florida State or Castellanos, but he let them know where Alabama’s feelings are at. Both teams aren’t short on confidence, and it should be an emotional showdown when these two meet on Aug. 30.

— On3’s Steve Samra contributed to this report.