Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson has been ruled out for the remainder of the Crimson Tide's Week 13 visit to Oklahoma with a lower-body injury, an Alabama spokesperson told ESPN.
Lawson, the Crimson Tide's second-leading tackler, was helped off the field in the second quarter Saturday night and later went to the locker room alongside several members of Alabama's medical staff. Senior linebacker Justin Jefferson entered the game in Lawson's place before halftime.
The loss of Lawson is a significant blow to an Alabama defense that allowed 205 rushing yards before halftime Saturday. Lawson operates as the Crimson Tide's defensive signal-caller wearing the green dot on his helmet for on-field communication, and his 591 snaps played ranked second among Alabama defenders entering Week 13. Lawson began Saturday as the SEC's seventh-leading tackler this fall with 74 total tackles in his fourth season.
The Crimson Tide entered halftime trailing Oklahoma 10-3 after getting outgained 242-97 in the first half Saturday night. The Sooners' 205 first-half rushing yards marked the second-most rushing yards Alabama has allowed in an SEC game this fall, trailing only the 214 yards the Crimson Tide gave up in their Oct. 19 loss to Tennessee.