Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair apologized to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence a day after Al-Shaair’s violent hit led to Lawrence being carted off the field with a concussion. This also sparked two ugly skirmishes during a game between the AFC South rivals at EverBank Stadium in Florida. During the second quarter on a second down, Lawrence scrambled to his left and then initiated a slide. That should have ended the play, but instead, Al-Shaair continued at full speed. He crashed into the quarterback’s facemask with his forearm.
Al-Shaair posted on X saying he “genuinely didn’t see [Lawrence] sliding until it was too late,” adding that “it all happens in the blink of an eye.”
Lawrence was making his first start after missing two games because of a sprained left shoulder. He remained on the ground for several minutes. Afterward, Al-Shaair was ejected for “an illegal hit on the quarterback, unnecessary, to the neck and head area,” referee Land Clark said in a pool report.
“To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening,” AlShaair posted on X. “Before the game we spoke and I told you how great it was to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them, especially one that was ruled ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’”
Lawrence was ruled out of the game with a concussion. Later, he was seen walking out of the stadium with his wife. On Sunday night, he posted on X, “home and feeling better.”
Immediately after Al-Shaair delivered the blow towards Lawrence, Jaguars tight end Evan Engram attacked the Texans player in what Engrem described later as “a dirty hit.”
“Trevor was going down and I saw it out of my peripheral,” said Engram after he just received a personal foul penalty for his action. “ I got a pretty clear view of it, and in that moment, just [reacted on] instincts. It just didn’t feel like a clean hit, so just go stick up for my quarterback. I mean, I saw him sliding and then I saw the hit, and then just, honestly [emotions] just took over. I just knew it was wrong. It was just a dirty play, and you stick up for your guys.”
Before Al-Shaair even left the field, two separate fights broke out between the teams. When he was being escorted to the locker room by teammate Will Anderson Jr, a fan threw a water bottle that hit Anderson’s helmet. The fan was ejected and Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones was also ejected from the game. This was because Jones left the bench and punched another player.
“I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that,” Al-Shaair addressed Lawrence’s teammates on his X post.
According to the “Los Angeles Times”, “Al-Shaair was fined $11,817 for punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson during a Week 2 game. He is sure to receive a fine, and possibly more severe punishment, in the coming days.”
Al-Shaair wrote, “To the rest of the people who [have called me] every single name in the book, from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and Islamophobic fans and people, you don’t know my heart nor my character which I don’t need to prove to any of you.” He also added, “God knows my intentions and anyone who has been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart.”