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Trevor Lawrence hit: Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans LB, suspended 3 games for illegal hit
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- Trevor Lawrence hit: Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans LB, suspended 3 games for illegal hit
Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans has been suspended without pay for three games for repeated violations of rules intended to protect the health and safety of players and promote sportsmanship, including during Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars , the NFL announced Tuesday morning.
On Sunday, Al-Shaair's hit to the head of a sliding Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence not only drew a personal foul penalty, but resulted in Lawrence suffering a concussion and Al-Shaair being ejected.
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NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension. In a letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan, who noted that Al-Shaair has had multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons, wrote:
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, seen here being carted off the field after taking a vicious hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, missed seven games in 2024 and had season-ending surgery on a sprained AC joint. That factored heavily into the team's offense performing well below expectations.
"During your game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 1, with 4:20 remaining in the second quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules. Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars' quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide...You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact."
GENE FRENETTE: Questions about Trevor Lawrence availability, Walker Little contract, Gus Malzahn bailing on UCF
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"After the illegal hit, you proceeded to engage in a brawl, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask. After the referee announced that you were disqualified for the hit and your unsportsmanlike acts, you removed your helmet and reengaged with your opponent while walking down and across the field, which started another physical confrontation near the end zone.
"Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL… Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated."
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return to the Texans' active roster following the team's Week 17 game against the Baltimore Ravens .
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According to spotrac.com, Al-Shaair's base salary is $1.5 million, so a three-game suspension will cost him $264,705.88.
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Al-Shaair may appeal the suspension. Any appeal will be heard and decided by either Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster , Kevin Mawae, or Jordy Nelson , the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.
Lawrence remains in concussion protocol .
The fallout after Trevor Lawrence hit, concussion
Lawrence was immediately placed in concussion protocol. He tweeted late Sunday to thank fans and let them know he was doing OK.
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"Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me. I'm home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all," Lawrence said via X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azeez Al-Shaair apologized Monday morning for the hit that concussed Lawrence , but still stood behind his play.
Al-Shaair said in a statement via X that he will always play the game as hard as he can without the intent to cause anyone harm. The goal, he said, is that the player can get up and play the next play and return to their family unharmed.
"I genuinely didn't see [Lawrence] sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor i [sic] genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that's deemed 'late' or 'unnecessary'," Al-Shaair said in part on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is shaken after a hit from Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during their Dec. 1 game at EverBank Stadium. Lawrence was later diagnosed with a concussion and ruled out for the season.
"To the rest of his teammates I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that. To the rest of the people who l've been called every single name in the book from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villan [sic], to racist and Islamophobic fans and people, you don't know my heart nor my character which I don't need to prove to any of you. God knows my intentions and anyone who has ever been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart."
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Azeez Al-Shaair: A history of personal fouls
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Sept. 16, 2022: Playing for the San Francisco 49ers , Al-Shaair received a 15-yard penalty for a hard hit on Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields , who was attempting to slide on the play.
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Dec. 11, 2022: Al-Shaair ignited controversy after grasping the throat of Tom Brady during the 49ers' 35-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
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Sept. 10, 2023: In his first game for the Tennessee Titans , Al-Shaair delivered an illegal hit to New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr . The NFL fined him $13,934 for the incident.
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Nov. 12, 2023: Al-Shaair was flagged for unnecessary roughness with a facemask penalty in a 20-6 loss to the Buccaneers. The NFL fined him more than $10,000 for the foul.
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Sept. 15, 2024: Playing for the Texans, Al-Shaair sparked a large-scale altercation after a late hit on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams . During the ensuing scuffle, Al-Shaair punched Chicago running back Roschon Johnson along the sideline. He was not ejected, but later received a fine of more than $11,000 for the incident as reported by Houston television station KPRC.
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Oct. 6, 2024: Al-Shaair hit Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen high in combination with teammate Mario Edwards. Allen subsequently entered the medical tent but returned to the game, in a sequence that prompted questions about the NFL's concussion protocol.
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Nov. 24, 2024: One week ago, Al-Shaair committed a late hit on running back Tony Pollard in the Texans' 32-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans, drawing a fine of $11,255.
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Dec. 1, 2024: Al-Shaair made an illegal lunging hit to the head of sliding Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, sparking a massive brawl and knocking Lawrence out of the game with a concussion. Ejected immediately, Al-Shaair subsequently attempted to scuffle with several more Jaguars and sparred verbally with Jacksonville fans while being led from the field.
Lawrence has had two concussions in 12 months
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson addressed Monday what Lawrence must go through before he can play again.
"He's [Lawrence] got to go through five different stages before he can be cleared," Pederson said of the NFL program requiring a player to be cleared to engage in aerobic and strength training, following by non-contact football-related exercises, non-contact practice, then a normal practice routine before he can play in a game. "We'll see how he responds to this. But as far as game status, I can't comment. We've got to get him through the protocol and then make a determination."
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Complicating the issue is that this is Lawrence's second concussion in 12 months. He had a concussion on Dec. 17, 2023 against Baltimore but was cleared to play in the following week's game against Tampa Bay . The NFL concussion protocol takes previous concussions into account.
Lawrence also must be cleared by an independent doctor.
Texans coach defends Al-Shaair
While expressing his hope that Lawrence would be "okay," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans claimed the play "was twofold."
"A lot of the quarterbacks in this day and age, they try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late and they try to get an extra yard and now you're a defender, and a lot of the onus is on the defender," he said. "You don't know what a guy's thinking. You don't know if a guy is standing up and he's continuing to run, you don't know and then you get a late slide and ... you hit the guy."
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There was no video evidence that Lawrence was trying to be deceptive in any way by sliding to give himself up.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 01: Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans points to the Jacksonville Jaguars bench after a fight and being ejected during the second quarter of a game at EverBank Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Ryans said: "We don't have to overreact just because I think a guy gets hurt," he said. "We're not intentionally trying to hurt anyone. I think there is an overreaction when someone gets hurt but we just have to look at it from all perspectives."
Ryans says Jaguars 'overreacted'
Ryans then laid the blame for the ensuing brawl squarely on the Jaguars, who were defending their quarterback, as any NFL team likely would.
"He [Al-Shaair] hits the guy but their sideline overreacts," Ryans said. "It turns into a melee. It wasn't our guys. It's their team [that] overreacted, pushed our guy, dragging our guy to the sideline, so that's uncalled for on that side. We have to be better on the sidelines as well, with both teams."
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Despite the hit on Lawrence, a late hit on Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams on the sideline earlier this year, and then punching Bears running back Roschon Johnson (for which Al-Shaair was fined $11,000) and an incident when he grabbed Tom Brady by the throat when Brady played for the Tampa Bay Bucs and Al-Shaair for San Francisco , Ryans said the six-year veteran from Florida Atlantic "is a special player."
"Azeez is a great person, exceptional leader for us," Ryans said. "His intent is never to hurt anyone as he's playing the game. Any picture that's painted that Azeez is a dirty player or doing something intentional, that's the exact opposite of what Azeez is. Yes, he plays it fast, he plays it physical but sometimes that physical nature gets misunderstood in today's game."
(Information has been added to this story)
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Trevor Lawrence hit: Al-Shaair suspended three games for 'illegal hit'
