Azeez Al-Shaair suspended for cheap shot on Trevor Lawrence: When will the Texans' LB be able to play again?

The NFL has suspended Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for his late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence that ended up giving him a concussion.

What did the NFL say about Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence?

During the second quarter of the Texans game against the Jaguars on Sunday, Lawrence was sliding at the end of a scramble when Al-Shaair came in for the late tackle, leading with his forearm to hit Lawrence in the head. Lawrence was down on the ground as Al-Shaair then got involved in a brawl with Jaguars players who mobbed him after the hit.

Lawrence was carted off the field, diagnosed with a concussion, and did not return to the game. Al-Shaair was ejected from the game. This was not Al-Shaair’s first offense, leading the league to suspend him for three games.

Al-Shaair can appeal it, but if he does serve the full three-game suspension, he would not be eligible to return until the Texans' Week 18 season finale against the Tennessee Titans.

Last week, Al-Shaair was flagged and fined $11,255 for a late hit on Titans running back Tony Pollard. Earlier in the season, he hit Bears quarterback Caleb Williams so hard that a brawl broke out similar to the one with the Jaguars. Al-Shaair was then fined $11,817 for punching Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sidelines.

Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, said that the hit on Lawrence was “unacceptable” and that Al-Shaair’s “continued disregard” for the rules which govern player safety “will not be tolerated”.

“You were involved in a play that the (NFL) considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules,” Runyan wrote. “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.”

Runyan also wrote that Al-Shaair escalated the brawl by pulling one of the opponents to the ground by his facemask. He also mentioned that after being ejected, “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.”

“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.”

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