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Trevor Lawrence hit: Azeez Al-Shaair suspension reportedly looming after 'dirty play'
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- Trevor Lawrence hit: Azeez Al-Shaair suspension reportedly looming after 'dirty play'
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will likely be suspended for his dirty hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence that knocked the franchise QB out of the game and into the concussion protocol , according to ESPN's Adam Schefter Monday morning.
"The only question is for how long," Schefter noted in his report via X, formerly known as Twitter.
Al-Shaair was ejected from the game shortly after receiving the penalty.
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Lawrence was hit by Al-Shaair during the second quarter of Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Texans while attempting to slide. Al-Shaair's hit on Lawrence came late with time to pull up on the play or not lay the QB out. A bench-clearing brawl broke out as a result of the incident and several Jaguars players noted after the game that the hit was dirty, something that can't happen in today's league.
GENE FRENETTE: Dirty hit on Trevor Lawrence lowlights another tough loss to Texans
Al-Shaair released a statement about the hit Monday morning and Lawrence provided an update on his health late Sunday night. He left shortly after the game finished with his wife Marrissa.
Foye Oluokun calls Al-Shaair hit on Trevor Lawrence 'dirty,' provides linebacker perspective
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) is introduced before an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun saw the hit on Lawrence from the sideline and provided his perspective of the incident from a linebacker perspective Monday morning via Zoom. Oluokun said the play was dirty before giving context to what happens in a collision of that magnitude.
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"I can talk from both sides. As a defensive player, he's running for the first down. I can see you're running, giving your max effort, but just the way that he went about the actual tackle part of it. Trevor slid, you know quarterbacks slide, and it was — he slid. So, you going low anyway, like, what were you aiming for? And then, you made that — it was a dirty play," Oluokun said when asked about the late hit.
Al-Shaair was aiming low, launching toward Lawrence when the QB began to slide. If Lawrence was standing tall, Al-Shaair likely hit the QB in the knees or lower depending on the landing spot.
Oluokun said that he understood being aggressive, making sure Lawrence did not get the first down, but Lawrence slid and Al-Shaair went low.
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"Like, if he didn't slide, he was going low. If that's how you're going to tackle a quarterback, that's just weird anyway," Oluokun explained. "He's a quarterback, he's not going — you're going to stand him up and run the feet, drive him back. Instead, you saw him slide, and he went down after he slid, basically. So, mindset-wise, I understand the attacking mindset. I don't understand the finish of the play."
Oluokun said that while he's not trying to throw Al-Shaair under the bus, the Texans' LB must understand that he messed up. Ultimately, the hit can't happen.
"I saw he said something about trying to hit everybody as hard as he can. For sure, I understand that mindset. But you understand how the game is played especially today, and there's no room for that in the game right now," said Oluokun.
Is Trevor Lawrence still in the concussion protocol?
Lawrence was almost immediately placed in the concussion protocol after taking the hit from Al-Shaair in the second quarter of Sunday's contest against the Texans.
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Lawrence remains in the concussion protocol and must clear several tests to be cleared for play. Typically, that does not occur until Friday or Saturday at the earliest after sustaining a concussion on the previous Sunday, but that is not a rule.
Last year, Lawrence cleared the league's concussion protocol on Saturday, Dec. 23 after being concussed against the Baltimore Ravens the previous Sunday, Dec. 17.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson did not have many details following the game on Lawrence's status but did say Lawrence was going to be fine.
"I'm just glad that Trevor's going to be fine. He'll obviously be in the protocol, but it just is an unfortunate play," Pederson said.
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Azeez Al-Shaair has 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.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Trevor Lawrence hit: Al-Shaair to be suspension for hit on Jaguars QB
