Will Azeez Al-Shaair be suspended? Texans LB ejected, escorted off field after dirty hit on Trevor Lawrence

Dan Treacy

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Will Azeez Al-Shaair be suspended? Texans LB ejected, escorted off field after dirty hit on Trevor Lawrence image

The Jaguars were thrilled to welcome QB Trevor Lawrence back to the field Sunday after he missed two games with a shoulder injury, but the former No. 1 pick's day ended early when he absorbed a massive hit from Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair.

Al-Shaair was promptly ejected, and a brawl ensued as Jaguars players stood up for their injured quarterback. Lawrence was carted back to the locker room and quickly ruled out, though he was conscious and able to sit up. 

Al-Shaair, meanwhile, continued to try to fight Jaguars players as he left the field. He ultimately walked into the tunnel with security escorting him. 

Will the Texans lose Al-Shaair to a suspension? Here's what to expect after the huge hit knocked Lawrence out of the game on Sunday.

MORE: Latest injury updates on Trevor Lawrence

Trevor Lawrence hit video

Al-Shaair's hit knocked Lawrence's head backward into the turf, appearing to leave him in the fencing position commonly associated with brain injuries. Al-Shaair was ejected for the collision immediately following the play, as several training staffers helped Lawrence onto a cart to head into the locker room for concussion evaluation.

Will Azeez Al-Shaair be suspended?

The league took action Tuesday, suspending Al-Shaair for three games as a result of the hit. In a statement, the NFL called the play "unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules." It also called out Al-Shaair for escalating the situation after the play.

Al-Shaair is appealing the suspension, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, which could result in a reduction. If the current suspension is upheld, Al-Shaair could return to the Texans after the team's Week 17 game vs. Baltimore.

Texans GM Nick Caserio took exception to the suspension, calling it "unfair" and "embarrassing" in a lengthy rant.

Most NFL suspensions for on-field plays cite "repeated violations" of rules, including recent bans for Chargers S Derwin James and Steelers S Damontae Kazee. Both James and Kazee were considered repeat offenders of player safety rules, and each delivered a brutal hit that prompted the league to take action.

That was exactly what the NFL cited when announcing Al-Shaair's suspension Tuesday.

You don't have to be a repeat offender to receive a suspension, though. On-field suspensions can stem from one play alone. Myles Garrett was infamously suspended indefinitely in 2019 after swinging a helmet at Mason Rudolph, while Danny Trevathan was suspended two games for a dirty hit to the head of Davante Adams in 2017.

Al-Shaair had an on-field infraction earlier in the season when he threw a punch, earning a fine, and he showed little remorse when he tried to engage in a fight after delivering the hit to Lawrence on Sunday. Both of those factors could contribute to a possible suspension from the league as the NFL looks to clamp down on helmet-to-helmet hits.

After the game, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said the play was "not representative of who we are" but defended Al-Shaair's character. "It's not representative of who Azeez is. He's a smart player. Really great leader for us," Ryans said. 

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson, meanwhile, called the hit "a play that has no business in our league."

Al-Shaair took to X (formerly Twitter) to issue an apology. The LB wrote "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. 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."

He added "I genuinely didn't see [Lawrence] sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor [I] genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening."

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Azeez Al-Shaair timeline of trouble

Tom Brady throat grab

Al-Shaair has been in the headline for the wrong reasons before. He put his hands on Tom Brady's throat during a game between the 49ers and Buccaneers in 2022, prompting Brady to check in with the officials and ask why the linebacker wasn't called for a penalty.

Roschon Johnson punch

Al-Shaair delivered a punch to the helmet of Bears RB Roschon Johnson at the end of a play on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 2, though it was missed by the officials.

The punch came after Al-Shaair delivered a hard hit on Bears QB Caleb Williams, though it wasn't a head-to-head blow. He was later fined $11,000 for the punch, and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters, "we can’t throw punches," while defending the hit on Williams.

Trevor Lawrence hit, ejection

Al-Shaair was ejected Sunday after a devastating hit to Lawrence's head, knocking the Jaguars quarterback out of the game. Al-Shaair continued to fight with various Jaguars after the play, and was escorted off the field by security. 

Dan Treacy

Dan Treacy Photo

Dan Treacy is a content producer for Sporting News, joining in 2022 after graduating from Boston University. He founded @allsportsnews on Instagram in 2012 and has written for Lineups and Yardbarker.