CLEVELAND – Carl Lawson didn’t want to get on camera after the Cincinnati Bengals' 31-7 victory in Cleveland on Sunday, but the Cincinnati Bengals linebacker did speak, even missing parts of his two front teeth.

The rookie thought he had a sack of Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer on 4th and 10 from the Bengals’ 36-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but a few things went wrong.

One, the officials ruled Kizer got the ball off.

And two ...

“When I’m bringing him down I see my teeth just in the air,” Lawson said. “I’m like, ‘oh crap.’ ”

After that play near the Bengals sideline, offensive tackle Andre Smith rushed out, along with Bengals medical staff, to help Lawson find the pieces. And then on the sideline, as doctors attended to him, defenders formed a half-circle to watch.

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Up 31-0, it offered a moment of levity for the Bengals in the moment and in the locker room after the game.

“It didn’t hurt. I just saw my teeth in the air.”

Lawson called it a freak accident and he said he’ll know more about how, or if, his teeth can be fixed when the team gets back to Cincinnati.

When asked whether he wears a mouthpiece, Lawson said “It was a give and take. I got a good pressure. Almost a sack ...”

Fellow linebacker Kevin Minter, getting dressed a locker over, pitched forward to answer.

“He does not wear a mouthpiece."

He paused.

"You’re gonna listen now ain’t ya? I’ve been telling him since training camp.”

“Either way, it was a freak accident, mouthpiece or not,” Lawson said. “A hit on the quarterback. I was hitting the quarterback. If it had gotten knocked out any other play, I probably would have been a little bit more upset. It was a good rush. I sacrificed my teeth for it.”

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Lawson kept his sense of humor and said he’d consider sacrificing some more enamel for future success.

“If it was for a sack, probably,” he said. “Sack-forced fumble, then yeah. But I’m kind of mad they said he was throwing the ball forward. It’s unfortunate.”

On his way to the team plane, Lawson said he’ll make one change going forward; regarding wearing some mouth gear, Lawson said, “I will now.”