The NFL has suspended Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair 3 games for his hit on Trevor Lawrence on Sunday @NFLonCBS
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 3, 2024
Al-Shaair made forcible contact to Lawrence's head late in the second quarter of the Texans' 23-20 win over the Jaguars. Al-Shaair launched as Lawrence began a slide following a six-yard scramble, driving his arms and shoulder into Lawrence's helmet. A brawl between both teams exploded, and Al-Shaair was disqualified following offsetting penalties. Lawrence promptly exited the game with a concussion.Watch Trevor Lawrence immediately after this horrific hit. His right arm suddenly flexes as his left arm simultaneously extends. This is known as the “fencing posture”—an involuntary reflex that occurs after impact in blunt head trauma. It signifies a traumatic brain injury with… pic.twitter.com/Saa8j8cffJ
— Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) December 1, 2024
Al-Shaair is an important cog in the Texans defense. His 68 tackles rank second on the team, and his 73.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus is the highest among Texans linebackers. Though he only joined the Texans this year, he's a trusted veteran of head coach DeMeco Ryans' system dating back to their time with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Texans have all but secured the AFC South thanks to their 2.5-game lead over the second-place Indianapolis Colts, but Al-Shaair's absence could impact the AFC standings. He'll miss key games against the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens, and a series of losses could lock the Texans into the fourth seed.
The three-game suspension on Al-Shaair is certainly a stiff penalty, but it's a necessary deterrent. The NFL simply can't afford hits of that severity to its stars, particularly when it comes to young up-and-coming quarterbacks like Lawrence. For the safety and health of the league and its players, the NFL had no choice but to come down hard on Al-Shaair.
Photo Credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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