The NFL suspended Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair three games for repeated violations of player safety rules following his hit to the head of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday.
Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of policy and rules administration, announced the suspension Tuesday, adding in a letter to Al-Shaair that the league found the hit “unacceptable” and that its “continued disregard” for the rules governing the Player safety “will not be tolerated.”
Al-Shaair was ejected in the second quarter of Houston’s win Sunday over Jacksonville after his violent hit on Lawrence’s mask as the quarterback was sliding to the ground, causing the Jaguars star to suffer a concussion.
“You were involved in a work that the [NFL] considered unacceptable and a serious violation of the rules of the game,” Runyan wrote on Tuesday. “The video shows you striking the head and neck area of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly falls into a slide with feet first. …You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to your opponent’s head/neck area when you had time and space to avoid such contact.”
Texans general manager Nick Caserio defended Al-Shaair and said he doesn’t believe the league is being consistent in handing out punishments like these.
“I probably speak for a lot of teams, not just the Houston Texans, but I think the one thing teams are asking for is consistency from the league,” he said. “And I would say that in this situation, frankly, there is no consistency in relation to the level of discipline that has been conveyed.”
Caserio pointed to other players who have been ejected for illegal hits this season and who have not been suspended or have only been suspended for one game.
Lawrence clenched both fists after the blow, movements consistent with what is known as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury. He was on the ground for several minutes while his teammates came to his defense and harassed Al-Shaair.
Runyan said in his letter that Al-Shaair “proceeded to engage in a fight, which escalated when he knocked an opponent to the ground by his mask,” and also added that after being ejected, the six-year veteran “removed his helmet and again confronted his opponent as he walked down the field, which began another physical confrontation near the end zone.”
Al-Shaair will appeal the suspension, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The appeal will be heard by one of the appeals officers jointly appointed by the league and the NFLPA: Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawae or Jordy Nelson.
If Al-Shaair serves the full three games, he will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular season finale against the Tennessee Titans. Al-Shaair has a base salary of $1.5 million this season, meaning it will cost him around $265,000 if the three-game suspension stands.
Al-Shaair was flagged and then fined $11,255 for a late out-of-bounds hit on Titans running back Tony Pollard in Week 12. He was also fined $11,817 earlier this year after hitting Chicago Bears running back , Roschon Johnson, on the bench in Week 2. That occurred during a fight that began after his hard shot at quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline was not called.
“His 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,” Runyan wrote. “His continued disregard for NFL rules of the game endangers his health and safety and that of his opponents and will not be tolerated.”
Al-Shaair took to social media on Monday to apologize to Lawrence, first saying that he didn’t see Lawrence slide until “it was too late” and that it happened “in the blink of an eye” before adding that he “would never want to” “Seeing a player hurt by a hit I hit him.”
Al-Shaair also said he understood why Jacksonville players came to Lawrence’s defense in the scuffle after the hit, but Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said later Monday that Jaguars players “overreacted.” to the late blow.
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Monday that the team would wait until Lawrence passes concussion protocol before deciding whether to shut him down for the rest of the season. He also said they would take Lawrence’s left AC joint sprain into consideration, although he added that the previous injury was not aggravated by Al-Shaair’s hit.
