The Houston Texans won 23-20 over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, extending their two-game lead in the AFC South over the Indianapolis Colts.
While Houston won, they lost a key defensive player for multiple games.
Midway through the second quarter, Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair launched himself at Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence as Lawrence attempted to slide,
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
The hit caused a skirmish between the two teams. Al-Shaair was ejected, and Lawrence left the game and was later diagnosed with a concussion.
On Tuesday, the NFL announced that Al-Shaair would be suspended for three games due to the hit. According to NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan, Al-Shaair’s status as a repeat offender factored into the punishment.
“You were involved in a play that the [NFL] considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules… 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,” Runyan said in a letter to Al-Shaair.
“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,” Runyan wrote. “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,” the letter continued.
Al-Shaair has been fined twice this season for his on-field conduct. After Houston’s Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears, he was fined for punching Chicago running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline. He was also fined last week after a late hit out of bounds on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard.
Al-Shaair is expected to appeal the suspension, per ESPN. Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against the Titans if the suspension is upheld.
Social media had a lot to say about the suspension news.
Unsurprising. NFL is a max punishment of players league to pretend they care about health and safety
3 Texans games in 11 days against Dolphins, Chiefs, Ravens arguably is a much greater health hazard to players than anything Al-Shaair did but can’t suspend league office ha https://t.co/V94vyqFh5y pic.twitter.com/4uOuosa3pa
— Stephanie Stradley (@StephStradley) December 3, 2024
This hit was malicious and has no place in our game…
But the NFL needs to get the “weaponized quarterback slide” out of the game.
As dangerous as hits on a quarterback are when the quarterback chooses to slide, we need to stop allowing quarterbacks to fake slide or late slide… https://t.co/6sRYCqeRWQ
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) December 3, 2024
The NFL got one right. https://t.co/GQ3Fgploxl
— William Spencer III (@hype_phinest) December 3, 2024
That’s it? He should have been suspended for the remainder of the season! https://t.co/6q7wgziqFd
— Joe M (@CalebToBears) December 3, 2024
[Adam Schefter, NFL]
