Texans Player Suspended for 3 Games After Late Hit

UPDATE Dec 3, 2024 11:35 AM CST

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been suspended without pay for three games following Sunday's late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Jon Runyan, an NFL VP, announced the penalty Tuesday, saying Al-Shaair "had time and space to avoid such contact" and that his "lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game ... is troubling," per SB Nation and ESPN. Runyan also noted the linebacker, fined for a late hit last week, has a history of "personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations," per ABC News. In a Monday statement, Al-Shaair apologized.

Dec 2, 2024 10:48 AM CST

There's much Monday-morning quarterbacking about Sunday's game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars that resulted in a concussion, irate fans throwing things at players, a brawl, and player and fan ejections. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was scrambling for a first down in the second quarter and had begun his slide when Houston's Azeez Al-Shaair plowed into him in a hard—and late—head-to-head hit, reports the New York Times. (You can watch video here.) Jaguars tight end Evan Engram immediately shoved Al-Shaair in what quickly turned into a bench-clearing brawl—as Lawrence remained on the ground being tended to by medical personnel.

Lawrence left the game with a concussion, Al-Shaair and Jags cornerback Jarrian Jones were ejected for unnecessary roughness, and Engram was given a 15-yard penalty for the same. As Al-Shaair left, he continued arguing with Jaguars players and fans who were screaming at him and throwing trash at him. A fan pegged him in the head with a water bottle and was also ejected. The AP notes that Al-Shaair took to X on Monday to apologize, saying he didn't see Lawrence's slide until "it was too late" and that it happened "in the blink of an eye. ... To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening." Al-Shaair, who faces a fine and likely suspension, was fined $11,255 last week for a separate late hit. Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said Sunday that "that's not what we're coaching." (More Houston Texans stories.)