Second chance sweet for Lawson Jr.

Winnipeg Free Press

3 days ago

Dexter Lawson Jr. could be the scratch to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' itch.
The 25-year-old defensive back had just finished up a two-week stint with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League — about two hours north of his home in Bloomfield, Conn. — when the Bombers rang his line.
Lawson, who was in training camp with Winnipeg this spring, was doing anything to stay ready for another opportunity, even if that meant playing the arena-based game for the first time.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Dexter Lawson Jr. said the timing of his inking a deal with the club 'worked out perfectly.'
'I said, 'Heck, why not?' I'm still active and things like that, just want to continue to run around and put the pads on while I wait for another opportunity to come around,' Lawson said earlier this week.
'That was my first experience in arena. It was different. It was a culture shock, to say the least, but it was definitely cool — another experience, another step in the journey. It's something I'm definitely appreciative of, because it's a part of my story. That's just the way the cards felt, and I'm just so grateful that I am where I am.'
Perhaps that experience made inking a new contract with the Blue and Gold recently even sweeter. It's a scenario that Lawson said 'worked out perfectly,' as his last game with the Pirates was on July 25 and the Bombers called two days later to bring him back.
A week later, Lawson is getting extensive run at field-side corner with the Bombers' first-team defence, signalling that he could be in line to suit up for the Bombers when they travel to face the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Saturday (6 p.m. CT).
Winnipeg's defence is allowing explosive plays at an exorbitant pace and searching for some level of consistency at field cornerback. It's possible that they turn to the third-year pro for the fix.
'We're fortunate,' head coach Mike O'Shea said about Lawson still being available.
'He's in good shape. He had good eyes and made a nice breakup ball (Monday), and he had another one (Tuesday), and he lays off because it's going to be a hell of a collision if he tries to pick it. But I thought he had a hell of a break (on Tuesday), and probably could have got one, which would have been nice.'
Lawson is maintaining a professional approach in his second stint with the club.
'I'll just try to make everybody else's job a lot easier, because I know what I can do, and I think that's my biggest asset, is just understanding the jobs of the people around me, so that way I can help where I need to and scratch where it itches,' he said.
'Wherever the guys need me to be at or however I could take some stress off of their plate, especially if I feel like my job is a little less tedious than theirs, I try to help them in that way.'
Those are sweet words to halfback Evan Holm, who has watched a revolving door of players at field cornerback over the last two weeks. Marquise Bridges, who was cut on Wednesday, started the first six games of the year but was benched halfway through the Bombers' Week 8 road contest in Toronto. Rookie Trey Vaval replaced him but got nicked up, which forced Bridges back into action.
Last week, amid several changes in the secondary, Jamal Parker Jr. started but exited the game early with a leg injury. Vaval once again jumped into action.
Now it's perhaps Lawson's turn. He has the experience and the versatility that, Holm explained, have made for an easy transition.
'He's played half before, too, so he knows my struggles or things that are tough for me,' Holm said. 'So then he can play corner to help me out, and then that makes us stronger together, where new guys, you don't know what you don't know until you make those mistakes. So it's nice to have him. He's really smart, he's seen a lot of football, so he can play with his eyes a little bit more.'
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files
Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger said Dexter Lawson Jr. 'was one of the tough cuts in training camp' as the defensive back had made 'a lasting impression.'
Lawson, who said his versatility is one of his best skill sets, made nine starts at field-side halfback and another seven at field-side corner during his two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, recording 29 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, and one interception.
His traits were evident in training camp as he pushed for a roster spot in a crowded defensive back room. Lawson was among the last round of cuts entering the regular season.
'It was one of the tough cuts in training camp,' said defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger. 'At the time, we were set with the people we had, but he made, obviously, a lasting impression. He was able to play at multiple positions, so he fits that mould of the type of player we like: easy to get along, does the work, self-motivated, has the skill athletically and, now, there was just a need.'
A mutual interest remained. Lawson said he knew someone would eventually reach out for his services, and it was a bonus that it was the Bombers.
'It was a good feeling. Just going in, I knew that this team, it felt different throughout training camp. I even stayed in touch with the guys throughout the beginning of the season, just being positive about everything and things like that. So everything just kind of worked out how it was supposed to,' Lawson said.
'It's hard to explain. I think from day one, when I came here, just all the team camaraderie, everybody just being together and moving as a family, on and off the field, I think it's something that I like to be a part of and probably is the reason why we are so successful the past few years.'
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Lawson said he will be ready if his number is called on Saturday. Second chances like this don't happen for everyone.
'I like to think that no matter what opportunity I am given, I like to take full advantage of it,' he said.
'I'm understanding of this professional world that at the end of the day, all you can do is control what you can control, and then things after that, they fall where they land. We've seen plenty of guys who felt like they were good enough, or whatever the case may be, but politics are politics and some things that you just can't get away from. So as long as I'm putting my best foot forward, taking advantage of every opportunity that I get, I can't be mad at myself.'
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Joshua Frey-SamReporter
Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh.
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