NFL
Azeez Al-Shaair responds to horror late hit on Trevor Lawrence
The Texans linebacker was ejected from the game after thundering into a challenge as Jaguars quarterback Lawrence slid to end a six-yard scramble.
The Houston Texans recorded a narrow 23-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in a game overshadowed by a dangerous hit on Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The 25-year-old slid to finish a six-yard scramble when linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair connected with a fierce tackle, clattering into Lawrence’s head and leaving the QB motionless on the ground. That late challenge sparked an on-field brawl. When the chaos had subsided, Al-Shaair was ejected for an illegal hit to the quarterback’s head and neck area.
On Monday morning Al-Shaair broke his silence, posting a statement on social media in which he claimed he “genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late," adding that “it all happens in the blink of an eye.”
“To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well,” Al-Shaair added.
How long is Trevor Lawrence out for after concussion?
By Sunday evening Lawrence was back at home having escaped the worst of the potential medical implications. Lawrence was lying prone on the ground when the fighting broke out just yards away from him. Fortunately, a quick-thinking official knelt down to protect him from the ensuing brawl.
Once tensions had calmed Lawrence was taken from the field on a cart, riding in the front seat in a vertical position, and the Jaguars announced that he was out of the game due to a concussion.
Lawrence will now be put through the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol to establish when is able to return to competitive action. This process covers a gradual return to sporting activities and concludes with an assessment by a team physician and independent neurological consultant.
Sometimes players can return within a matter of days, as Patrick Mahomes did during the playoffs in 2021. However if players continue to feel the affects of the concussion - typically reporting headaches, loss of mobility - it can keep them sidelines for weeks or even months.
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