Houston Texans Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair Suspended Three Games for Late Hit on Trevor Lawrence
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been handed a three-game suspension by the NFL following a controversial hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during Sunday’s game.
The penalty stems from a play in the second quarter, where Lawrence was hit in the head as he slid to the turf after a six-yard run. Al-Shaair was ejected from the game along with Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones after a scuffle erupted following the hit.
"It was a dangerous play," the NFL stated in its announcement, highlighting "repeated violations of rules intended to protect the health and safety of players and promote sportsmanship." The League further expressed concern about Al-Shaair’s lack of sportsmanship, both during the incident and after his ejection.
"Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game…is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL," the league stated.
This suspension is not Al-Shaair’s first encounter with NFL disciplinary action.
Earlier this season, he was fined for a late hit in a game against the Tennessee Titans and for punching a player in a game against the Chicago Bears.
Al-Shaair, who plans to appeal the Week 17 suspension, expressed remorse for the hit on Lawrence. On social media, he apologized for the incident and defended his character.
"It all happens in the blink of an eye", he wrote, "To Trevor, I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening"
Beyond his apology, Al-Shaair also lamented the racially charged abuse he has experienced online since the incident.
"To the rest of the people who I’ve been called every single name in the book from reporters with their hands ready for a story…you don’t know my heart nor my character," he said.
In a show of support, Texans officials have publicly defended Al-Shaair, calling the suspension "overblown." Head Coach DeMeco Ryans sees the hit as an unfortunate byproduct of a game that increasingly favors quarterback safety.
"We’re not intentionally trying to hurt anyone," Ryans stated, "but there’s an overreaction when someone gets hurt. We have to look at it from all perspectives…a lot of quarterbacks…try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late…and now you’re a defender. A lot of onus is on the defender, right?”
Texans General Manager Nick Caserio expressed even stronger feelings, deeming the NFL’s statement inaccurate and disparaging to their player.
"For the league to make some of the commentary that they made about lack of sportsmanship, lack of coachability, lack of paying attention to the rules—quite frankly, it’s embarrassing,” Caserio lamented.
The controversy underlines the ongoing debate in the NFL regarding player safety, particularly regarding quarterbacks, while also highlighting the complexities of balancing playing aggressively with protecting opposing players.
Al-Shaair suspension will keep him off the field for the games against the Bengals, Cardinals, and Browns. He’s eligible to return for the crucial match against the Miami Dolphins.
Picture: "Al-Shaair lands a late hit on Trevor Lawrence.
