Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair has apologized to Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence after his violent blow forced the quarterback out of Sunday’s game with a concussion.
Lawrence was back after missing two games through injury when he scrambled left in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and hit the defenseless quarterback.
In an X post on Monday, Al-Shaair, who was ejected for the hit, said he didn’t see Lawrence sliding until “it was too late” and that the incident happened “in the blink of an eye”.
“To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening,” Al-Shaair wrote. “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 clenched both fists after the hit – movements consistent with the “fencing response,” which is common after a traumatic brain injury. He was on the ground for several minutes as teammates came to his defense and confronted Al-Shaair.
Massive concern for Lawrence as he’s hit by Al-Shaair. NFL needs to evolve though. Sliding in for 1st down puts him in vulnerable position. A simple step to right would mean contact avoided & goal achieved. Al-Shaair doesn’t need to make the hit. pic.twitter.com/6Xf3OzFIM9
— Tom May (@TomMay1) December 2, 2024
Al-Shaair was ejected for “an illegal hit on the quarterback, unnecessary, to the neck and head area,” referee Land Clark said after the game. The Jaguars’ rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones was also ejected for throwing a punch during the melee.
As Al-Shaair was leaving the field, fans jeered him. Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff joined in, prompting another altercation with Al-Shaair. Texans teammate Will Anderson grabbed Al-Shaair and was escorting him off the field when a fan threw a water bottle and hit Anderson in the helmet. The fan was later ejected.
Al-Shaair said he understood why Jacksonville’s players came to the defense of Lawrence.
“I can understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that,” Al-Shaair wrote in his X post.
However, he complained about reporters and others for their handling of the incident.
“To the rest of the people who I’ve been called every single name in the book from [to] reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and Islamophobic fans and people, you don’t know heart nor my character which I don’t need to prove to any of you,” he wrote. “God knows my intentions and anyone who has ever been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart.”
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said on Sunday it was a play that “really has no business being in our league,” and Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said “that’s not what we’re coaching.”
Last week, Al-Shaair was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard. He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline wasn’t flagged.
Al-Shaair, a sixth-year pro, will almost certainly receive a fine for the hit on Lawrence and could also be suspended.
At the beginning of his post on X, Al-Shaair said he would never intentionally try to harm anyone.
“My goal is to hit you as hard as I can and then pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play,” he wrote. “And when the game is over go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal, it’s just competition! We both are trying to do the same thing which is provide for our families!”
