The NFL announced that cornerback Nevin Lawson has been suspended one game without pay for using his helmet as a weapon in the Oakland Raiders’ Week 17 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Lawson signed a one-year contract with the Raiders last offseason, so he is now an unrestricted free agent after a solid season in Oakland. Whichever team signs Lawson this time around will be without him for their Week 1 game in 2020.
The 28-year-old was ejected from the game before the final play against the Broncos for taking his helmet off and swinging it. He luckily did not connect with anyone, or else it could have been a similar situation to Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who is suspended indefinitely.
After beginning the 2019 season with a four-game suspension due to PED use, Lawson finished with 24 total tackles and five passes defensed in 11 games for the Raiders.
Defensive back will be a position of need for the Raiders this offseason, and head coach Jon Gruden has spoken very highly of Lawson’s play in recent weeks, so it will be interesting to see if they try to bring him back in free agency.
The team will likely give young cornerback Isaiah Johnson every chance to earn the starting job opposite Trayvon Mullen, but having a veteran like Lawson for depth purposes could be necessary unless the Raiders address the position in the draft or with another free agent.
