Texans’ Al-Shaair suspended three games for late hit on Jaguars’ Lawrence

The NFL has suspended Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for three games after a late hit to the head of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday. 

Al-Shaair, who will miss three game checks due to the suspension, will be eligible to return for Houston’s Week 18 game against the Tennessee Titans. 

The hit knocked Lawrence out of the game and sent him into the league’s concussion protocol after he appeared to display the “fencing posture,” a warning sign of a potential concussion where an athlete’s arms involuntarily flex. The passer’s teammates quickly came to his defense, which led to a brawl between Al-Shaair and several Jaguars. 

When referees ejected Al-Shaair, the league said he continued to engage with his opponents and caused another fight as he left the field. 

“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,” NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Al-Shaair. 

In the letter, Runyan noted that this was not the linebacker’s first clash with the league’s sportsmanship policy. In Week 2, he was fined $11,817 for throwing a punch at running back Roschon Johnson during a game against the Chicago Bears. Last week, the league fined him another $11,255 for a late hit against Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard.

“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,” Runyan wrote. 

Al-Shaair has not said whether he plans to appeal the suspension. On Monday, he took to social media to apologize for the hit. 

“I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late,” the former San Francisco 49er wrote on X. “It all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor, I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.”

Lawrence said on Sunday night that he was recovering at home after the concussion. The Associated Press reported that the Jaguars are considering sidelining the 25-year-old signal-caller for the rest of the season due to the head injury — his second in less than a year — and a nagging shoulder sprain.

This article is based in part on wire services reports.