The NFL announced on Tuesday that Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will be suspended for three games due to an illegal hit he made on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The play in question took place in the first half of the Texans’ 23-20 win over the Jaguars on Sunday as Lawrence took off to run in an attempt to pick up a few extra yards.
Lawrence slid down to avoid being hit by Al-Shaair on the play, which is a common practice and meant to allow quarterbacks the ability to run without taking a hit, but Al-Shaair proceeded to jump into Lawrence and strike his head and neck area during the slide.
Lawrence immediately went into the “fencing position” after the hit, which is a clear indication that a player suffered a traumatic brain injury and would have to be evaluated in the locker room.
Players from the Jaguars quickly stood up for their quarterback and began to take shots at Al-Shaair after the hit, resulting in multiple fights following the play.
Trainers from the Jaguars escorted Lawrence off the field on a cart and he was diagnosed with a concussion, leaving his status for the upcoming week and the rest of the season in question.
Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, issued the suspension and wrote a letter to Al-Shaair to explain the reasoning behind the decision.
Runyan wrote in the letter that Al-Shaair was “involved in a play that the League considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules.”
“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,” continued the letter, per NFL.com.
Runyan further detailed that Al-Shaair “escalated” a fight that occurred following the hit when he “pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask,” further explaining that Al-Shaair prompted another fight by removing his helmet and talking trash with more fans and players.
“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. … 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,” continued Runyan in the letter, per NFL.com.
The NFL wrote in a preamble to the letter that the suspension may be longer than some expected, but Al-Shaair has “multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons,” per NBC Sports.
As a result, the league imposed a heavier penalty than it would have for a player’s first offense.
Despite the suspension presented by the league, Texans general manager Nick Caseri defended Al-Shaair and said that the narrative around him is “unfair” because “nobody embodies our program more than Azeez.”
“What he’s about, what he’s been through. … There’s not a more selfless individual, more about the team who’s earned the respect, that represents everything we want this program to be about,” added Caseri, according to NFL.com.