Azeez Al-Shaair reportedly will be suspended for hit on Trevor Lawrence
By Joe Lago
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will be suspended for his reckless hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. It's just a matter of how many games the NFL will have him sit.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that a ban is coming from the NFL, which reviews all tackles of this nature.
It is now anticipated that Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair will be suspended for the hit that he delivered Sunday to Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence. The only question is for how long. pic.twitter.com/P8phFecS02
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 2, 2024
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The league might not be in a rush to determine how it disciplines Al-Shaair — and for how long — since Houston has a bye this week and doesn't play until Dec. 15, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post.
The Texans are on their bye week and don't play again until Dec. 15. So it is perhaps less pressing for the NFL to make a ruling on a possible suspension or fine of Azeez Al-Shaair for the hit on Trevor Lawrence. He would have the right to appeal any disciplinary measure. https://t.co/S8qDUkGZbh
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) December 2, 2024
In the second quarter of the Texans' 23-20 victory over the Jaguars, Lawrence scrambled for a first down and slid for the final yards to make him a defenseless runner. Al-Shaair proceeded to tackle Lawrence, leading with his forearm to make the hit even more egregious.
Watch Trevor Lawrence immediately after this horrific hit. His right arm suddenly flexes as his left arm simultaneously extends. This is known as the “fencing posture”—an involuntary reflex that occurs after impact in blunt head trauma. It signifies a traumatic brain injury with… pic.twitter.com/Saa8j8cffJ
— Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) December 1, 2024
Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans called the play "unfortunate."
"That’s not what we’re coaching," Ryans told reporters afterward. "We want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team."
"It’s an unfortunate play. It’s not representative of who Azeez is," Ryans added. "He’s a smart player and really a great leader for us."
On Monday, Al-Shaair posted an apology to Lawrence on X/Twitter.
"I've always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that," he wrote. "My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you're able to get up and play the next play."
"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,'" he added.
All Praise to Allah🤲🏾 pic.twitter.com/pEbCRAg8fF
— Azeez Al-shaair (@A_train2_) December 2, 2024
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