Tag: Azeez Al-Shaair ejection

Texans defend LB Azeez Al-Shaair after ‘dirty hit’ on Jagaurs QB Trevor Lawrence

Multiple Houston Texans players voice their thoughts on Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit against Trevor Lawrence.

In a game that seemed to be droll entering halftime, one play woke up fans across the NFL world just behind halftime.

The Houston Texans secured a 23-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon, but it was a footnote in the scuffle that occurred between the two sidelines because of a hit.

Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair drilled Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence late as he had given himself up on a slide while trying to pick up the first down. With Lawrence sliding feet first, Al-Shaair dove at him and delivered a blow with his forearm to the head.

While Lawrence appeared to be knocked unconscious, Jaguars tight end Evan Engram shoved Al-Shaair to the ground in retaliation. Multiple other players from either side got involved as the swarm carried over toward Jacksonville’s.

Things got so far out of control that Texans coach DeMeco Ryans came across the field to grab Al-Shaair himself to try and calm down the veteran defender. Lawrence, who returned Sunday for the first time since Week 9, was carted off and ruled out with a head injury.

“That’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans told reporters postgame. “We want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, (not) get a penalty there. We just have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down.”

Al-Shaair, along with Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones, were ejected from the game because of their role in the aftermath. Even after the decision was final, Al-Shaair continued jawing with Jaguars players as he headed to the locker room.

Eventually, linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and running back Joe Mixon made sure the situation didn’t continue.

“Just an unfortunate play, not representative of who Azeez is,” Ryans said. “Azeez is a smart player, a really great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there, his loss, it really affected us on the defensive side.”

To’oTo’o told reporters that Jacksonville players were trying to defend their quarterback, so they had to go to bat for their linebacker. Quarterback C.J. Stroud voiced his support for Al-Shaair and offered condolences to Lawrence for a speedy recovery.

“I’m still rocking with Azeez,” Stroud said. “I don’t think that was his intent. I pray that Trevor is OK and that his family is right there with him.”

Houston won’t know if Al-Shaair will be suspended until after the bye week, but Ryans said the team would address the linebacker personally about the incident and “move forward from it.”

“It’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans said. “Didn’t want to see the melee and all the aftermath, that’s not what we’re about, not representative of us.”

Was Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit dirty? Several NFL players weigh in

Michael Strahan, Ryan Clark and several other former players weigh in on Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit against Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Houston Texans won 23-20 on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that was a footnote in the biggest takeaway from the afternoon at EverBank Stadium.

Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was ejected just before halftime after delivering what appeared to be a late hit against quarterback Trevor Lawrence. A fight broke out following the play while Lawrence lay sprawled out on the grass knocked out.

Al-Shaair will likely receive a fine and a potential suspension from the league office later this week. Even if he attempted to slow down, the hit seemed to be avoidable before the sixth-year linebacker ever left his feet.

But was the hit dirty? That’s the question everyone is trying to figure out entering the bye week as Houston heads home. Some fans think that because he led with his elbow, it shouldn’t lead to a suspension. Others think that despite being a member of the team, it’s a bad look.

Of course, several other former players voiced their opinions of the play on social media. Most believed the indecent was avoidable and didn’t agree with the decision.

Former Texans cornerback Steven Nelson called the play “crash-out behavior.” Former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III called the play “dirty” from Al-Shaair.

Former NFL quarterback and Baylor Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, called it a dirty play by Al-Shaair.

During the halftime broadcast, former Super Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan called the play “inexcusable” but mentioned his antics likely were to get him thrown out of the game to avoid further problems.

“I personally think he did that because he realized if he had stayed in that game, he was not going to be protected,” Strahan said. “What he did, everybody knows as a defensive player you don’t do that.”

ESPN analyst and former Super Bowl safety Ryan Clark called the hit “bull” and without question avoidable.

While Al-Shaair doesn’t have many on his side, defensive tackle and teammate Tim Settle defended the captain’s actions, stating that he’s not a dirty player and it was a bang-bang play.

“I don’t think his intentions were towards to hurt [Lawrence]. He was just trying to get us off the field. He was trying to get our offense back on the field,” Settle told reporters postgame. “We praise how he plays, but we know he’s not intentional like that.”

The Texans enter the bye week with an 8-5 record. Al-Shaair and the team will return to the field on Dec. 15 to take on the Miami Dolphins.