Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was hit with a three-game suspension on Tuesday from the NFL office following his hit against Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
It might be three games now, but Al-Shaair is going to do his best to lessen the penalty.
According to multiple reports, Al-Shaair will meet with the NFLPA representative on Wednesday afternoon to appeal his suspension. While the suspension likely will be upheld, it could be reduced to either one or two games.
New: I’m told #Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s appeal hearing with the #NFL to contest his 3-game suspension involving the hit on #Jags QB Trevor Lawrence is today, per source.
The hearing is remote and not in-person at NFL headquarters in NY. pic.twitter.com/nwR4W7EvnD
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) December 4, 2024
Al-Shaair was ejected following the hit that left Lawrence in concussion protocol during the second quarter of a 23-20 win. On Tuesday, Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, wrote that the linebacker was involved in a play that the league considers “unacceptable and a serious violation of playing rules.”
“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.”
Texans general manager Nick Caserio defended Al-Shaair, ripping the NFL for its wording in the letter of Al-Shaair’s character.
“Nobody embodies our program more than Azeez — what he’s about, what he’s been through,” Caserio said. “There’s not a more selfless individual more about the team, who has earned the respect, that represents everything we want this program to be about.”
This isn’t the first time the Texans have had to deal with a suspension because of on-field play. Last season, Denzel Perryman was suspended three games for violating the league’s player safety policy. Following the appeal, it was reduced to two games.
Caserio’s take on LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension.
Mentions Lions S Brian Branch getting ejected from a hit against Green Bay but being available to play against the Texans on SNF. https://t.co/ASnfSv5mKd pic.twitter.com/EbQLsiGjCJ
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) December 3, 2024
Al-Shaair, the Texans’ defensive captain, has been fined twice this season due to on-field play. He was fined $11,817 for an incident in Week 2 against the Bears after punching running back Roschon Johnson following an altercation with multiple Bears players.
Al-Shaair was also fined 11,255 for hitting Titans running back Tony Pollard out of bounds in Week 12.
Should the suspension be upheld, Al-Shaair would forfeit $112,745 per game, according to The Houston Chronicle.