Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was carted off the sphere within the second quarter of Sunday’s matchup towards the Houston Texans after linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair delivered a late, laborious hit whereas Lawrence was sliding. The Jaguars later dominated Lawrence out of the sport with a concussion.
After the hit, Jaguars tight finish Evan Engram ran to Al-Shaair and shoved him whereas Lawrence remained on the bottom. A scuffle between Jaguars and Texans gamers ensued whereas medical personnel attended to Lawrence.
Officers ejected Al-Shaair and Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones from the sport for pointless roughness and Engram acquired a 15-yard penalty for pointless roughness. Coaches and officers needed to escort Al-Shaair off the sphere as a result of he continued arguing with Jaguars gamers, notably offensive lineman Brandon Scherff.
As Al-Shaair walked off the sphere, he exchanged phrases with Jaguars followers, who have been seen throwing objects and trash on the 27-year-old linebacker.
Here’s what Texans QB CJ Stroud needed to say about Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence. pic.twitter.com/JxsjNPoz9w
— FOX Sports activities: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 1, 2024
“(That hit) shouldn’t be consultant of us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans informed Fox Sports activities at halftime.
When requested for clarification on Al-Shaair and Jones’ ejections, referee Land Clark stated Al-Shaair’s was for an unlawful hit on Lawrence and Jones’ as a result of he got here off the bench and threw a punch at a participant. Clark stated Engram wasn’t ejected as a result of his shove “didn’t warrant a disqualification, but it surely was pointless roughness.”
Engram stated he pushed Al-Shaair as a result of his intuition took over after he noticed the hit on Lawrence and he needed to face up for the quarterback.
“It was a unclean hit,” Engram stated. “These hits are at all times in query. … I noticed (Lawrence) sliding after which I noticed the hit. Truthfully, (intuition) took over. I simply knew it was fallacious. It was only a soiled play and also you stick up to your guys.”
Trevor Lawrence slides forward of Azeez Al-Shaair throughout the Jaguars-Texans matchup in Week 13. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Pictures)
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud stated, “It was robust, man, to see Trev exit like that,” however defended Al-Shaair. “Azeez, I don’t assume that’s his intent. … I do know he didn’t intend to do this. He’s gotta be extra cautious.”
Sunday marked Lawrence’s first sport again since Week 9 as he recovered from a shoulder harm. Earlier than sustaining the concussion, Lawrence went 4-of-10 for 41 passing yards with an interception. Backup QB Mac Jones took Lawrence’s place and completed 20-of-32 for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
Lawrence tweeted Sunday night time thanking followers for his or her help.
“I’m dwelling and feeling higher. Means rather a lot, thanks all,” Lawrence stated.
Thanks to everybody who has reached out / been praying for me. I’m dwelling and feeling higher. Means rather a lot, thanks all🙌🏼
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) December 2, 2024
The Texans (8-5) beat the Jaguars (2-10) 23-20. After the sport, Lawrence walked out of the locker room and towards the gamers’ exit along with his spouse, Marissa.
Al-Shaair’s ejection Sunday comes lower than three months after the NFL fined him $11,817 for pointless roughness towards the Chicago Bears. Within the Week 2 assembly, Al-Shaair hit Caleb Williams close to the sideline whereas the Bears quarterback ran out of bounds. Following the battle that ensued from that play, Al-Shaair threw a punch.
The NFL additionally penalized and later fined Al-Shaair $11,255 for a late hit on Tennessee Titans operating again Tony Pollard final week, who Al-Shaair hit out of bounds.
Lawrence, 25, is in his fourth season with Jacksonville after being chosen because the No. 1 choose in 2021. By the Jaguars’ first 9 video games, Lawrence accomplished 61.3 p.c of his passes for two,004 yards and 11 touchdowns towards six interceptions. In every of his first three seasons, Lawrence performed not less than 16 video games.
(Photograph: Mike Carlson / Getty Pictures)
