Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was hit late in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans by linebacker Azeez Al Shaia while Lawrence was sliding. As a result, he was sent off from the field. The Jaguars then removed Lawrence from the game with a concussion.
After the hit, Jaguars tight end Evan Engram ran up to Al Shaair and shoved him, but Lawrence remained on the ground. While medical personnel were treating Lawrence, a scuffle broke out between Jaguars and Texans players.
Officials ejected Al Shail and Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones from the game for unnecessary roughness, and Engram received a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. Coaches and officials had to escort Al Shaair off the field as he continued to argue with Jaguars players, particularly offensive lineman Brandon Schaaf.
As Al Shair left the field, he exchanged words with a Jaguars fan who was seen throwing objects and trash at the 27-year-old linebacker.
Here's what Texans QB CJ Stroud had to say about Azeez Al Shaair's hit on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence: pic.twitter.com/XXSjNPoz9w
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 1, 2024
“(That hit) doesn't represent us,” Texans manager DeMeco Ryans told FOX Sports at halftime.
Asked to explain the sending off of Al Shaair and Jones, referee Rand Clark said Al Shaair's sending off was due to a foul attack on Lawrence and Jones, and that Al Shaair came off the bench and threw a punch at a player. He said that. Clark said Engram was not ejected because his shoving was “not disqualifying, but was unnecessary roughness.”
Engram said he pushed for Al Shaair because he saw Lawrence's hit and his instincts took over and he wanted to tackle the quarterback.
“It was a tough blow,” Engram said. “Those hits are always questionable. … I saw (Lawrence) slide, and then I saw the hit. Honestly, (my instincts) got the better of me. I knew it was wrong. It was just a dirty play, and you do it for your guys.”
Trevor Lawrence slides in front of Azeez Al Shaair during the Jaguars-Texans game in Week 13. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Texans quarterback CJ Stroud defended Al Shaair, saying, “It was tough to see Trev go like that.” “Azeez, I don't think that's what he meant. … I know he didn't mean that. He has to be more careful.”
Sunday was Lawrence's first game back since Week 9 after recovering from a shoulder injury. Before his concussion, Lawrence completed 4-of-10 passes for 41 yards and an interception. Backup QB Mac Jones took Lawrence's place and went 20-of-32 for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
Lawrence tweeted Sunday night thanking fans for their support.
“I'm home and I feel better. It means a lot, thank you everyone,” Lawrence said.
Thank you to everyone who reached out/prayed for me. I felt better when I got home. It means a lot, thank you everyone 🙌🏼
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) December 2, 2024
The Texans (8-5) defeated the Jaguars (2-10) 23-20. After the game, Lawrence and his wife, Marissa, left the locker room and headed for the player exit.
Al Shair's ejection Sunday came less than three months after the NFL fined him $11,817 for unnecessary violent conduct against the Chicago Bears. In the Week 2 matchup, Al Sha'air hit Caleb Williams near the sideline while the Bears' quarterback ran wide. After the fight that ensued from that play, Al Sha'ir threw a punch.
The NFL also penalized and subsequently fined Al Sha'air $11,255 for his out-of-field hit in the final minute of the game on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard last week.
Lawrence, 25, is in his fourth season in Jacksonville, where he was the No. 1 pick in 2021. Through the Jaguars' first nine games, Lawrence completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,004 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions. In each of his first three seasons, Lawrence appeared in at least 16 games.
(Photo: Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
