The Washington Post
December 3, 2024
The NFL suspended Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for three games following his illegal hit that resulted in Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffering a concussion during a game Sunday.
The suspension is without pay and takes effect beginning with the Texans’ next game, scheduled for Dec. 15 in Houston against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans are on their bye week. Al-Shaair also is to miss games Dec. 21 on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs and on Christmas Day at home against the Baltimore Ravens. He is eligible to return for the Texans’ regular season finale Jan. 5 at Tennessee. The Texans (8-5) lead the AFC South by two games.
The NFL said Tuesday that the suspension was imposed for “repeated violations of rules intended to protect the health and safety of players and promote sportsmanship,” including during Sunday’s game. Jon Runyan, the league’s vice president of football operations, cited Al-Shaair’s “multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons” in a letter to Al-Shaair, the NFL said.
“You were involved in a play that the League considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules,” Runyan wrote to Al-Shaair, according to the NFL’s announcement. “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.”
Al-Shaair was penalized by the officiating crew and was ejected from Sunday’s game. Lawrence left the field on a cart.
The hit on Lawrence, who was sliding at the end of a first-half run during the Texans’ 23-20 victory in Jacksonville, Fla., drew an immediate retaliation by Jaguars players and resulted in an on-field scuffle between the teams.
“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,” Runyan wrote to Al-Shaair. “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.”
Al-Shaair has the right to appeal his suspension. If he does so, the appeal would be heard and resolved by one of the appeals officers jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association — Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawae or Jordy Nelson.
“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,” Runyan wrote to Al-Shaair.
Al-Shaair’s suspension, if it isn’t reduced on appeal, would cost him $250,000 in lost salary, or three weeks’ worth of his 2024 salary of $1.5 million that is paid over 18 weeks of the regular season.
The Texans objected to the severity of the NFL’s penalty, calling it inconsistent with disciplinary measures taken against players on other teams.
“I think one of the biggest issues that we sort of take umbrage with, I would say, as a team and organizationally is the picture that’s been painted of Azeez,” General Manager Nick Caserio said at a news conference Tuesday. “Quite frankly, it’s unfair. … That’s all teams ask for, is consistency from the league. And I’d say in this situation, I mean, quite frankly there’s no consistency at all, relative to the level of discipline that’s been handed down.”
Al-Shaair issued a public apology Monday to Lawrence.
“I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late,” he wrote in a statement posted to social media. “And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor [I] genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.”
Al-Shaair wrote that he had spoken with Lawrence before the game and had wished him well, adding: “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.’ To the rest of his teammates I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that.”
Texans Coach DeMeco Ryans, a former NFL linebacker, expressed support Monday for Al-Shaair. He called the hit “unfortunate” but said that some NFL quarterbacks “slide late” to try to get extra yards at the end of scrambles. Ryans said the Jaguars “overreacted” to the hit.
“We stand behind Azeez and everything that came from that,” Ryans said at a news conference Monday.
The skirmish occurred as members of the Jaguars’ medical staff rushed onto the field to examine Lawrence.
Lawrence was sitting upright and riding in the seat alongside the cart’s driver when he left the field. The Jaguars later announced that he had a concussion.
He wrote Sunday night on social media that he was “home and feeling better.” Lawrence thanked “everyone who has reached out,” writing that it means “a lot.”
He was making his return to the Jaguars’ lineup after he missed two games because of an injury to his nonthrowing left shoulder. It has been a frustrating season for Lawrence and the Jaguars since the team signed him to a five-year, $275 million contract extension in June. The Jaguars’ record fell to 2-10 with Sunday’s defeat, raising further questions about the job security of Coach Doug Pederson. They were returning from their bye week after suffering a 52-6 loss Nov. 17 in Detroit.
Al-Shaair rammed both arms into Lawrence’s left shoulder with the quarterback already into his slide. Fans reportedly threw items at Al-Shaair as he exited the field following his ejection. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram immediately hit Al-Shaair following the play and was penalized for unnecessary roughness. Jacksonville cornerback Jarrian Jones was ejected for his role in the melee that followed.
Al-Shaair was fined $11,817 by the league earlier this season for an incident in which he punched Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson in the face mask during a confrontation along the sideline after he hit rookie quarterback Caleb Williams during a September game.
The NFL fined Al-Shaair $11,255 for a hit on Titans running back Tony Pollard along the sideline during the Texans’ game in Week 12.
“I’ve always played the game as hard as I could,” Al-Shaair wrote Monday. “Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that. My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play. And when the game is over go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal it’s just competition!”
Al-Shaair acknowledged the backlash to the hit on Lawrence, saying that some of it has been inappropriate.
“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 to find their [villain], to racist and [I]slamophobic 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.”