Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was carted off the sphere within the second quarter of Sunday’s matchup in opposition to the Houston Texans after linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair delivered a late, exhausting 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 had 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) is just not consultant of us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans advised Fox Sports activities at halftime.
When requested for clarification on Al-Shaair and Jones’ ejections, referee Land Clark mentioned 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 mentioned Engram wasn’t ejected as a result of his shove “didn’t warrant a disqualification, however it was pointless roughness.”
Engram mentioned he pushed Al-Shaair as a result of his intuition took over after he noticed the hit on Lawrence and he wished to face up for the quarterback.
“It was a unclean hit,” Engram mentioned. “These hits are all the time 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 on your guys.”
Trevor Lawrence slides forward of Azeez Al-Shaair through the Jaguars-Texans matchup in Week 13. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Pictures)
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud mentioned, “It was powerful, man, to see Trev exit like that,” however defended Al-Shaair. “Azeez, I don’t suppose that’s his intent. … I do know he didn’t intend to try this. He’s gotta be extra cautious.”
Sunday marked Lawrence’s first recreation 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 quite a bit, thanks all,” Lawrence mentioned.
Thanks to everybody who has reached out / been praying for me. I’m dwelling and feeling higher. Means quite a bit, 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 together with his spouse, Marissa.
Al-Shaair’s ejection Sunday comes lower than three months after the NFL fined him $11,817 for pointless roughness in opposition to 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 struggle 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 working 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 decide in 2021. By the Jaguars’ first 9 video games, Lawrence accomplished 61.3 % of his passes for two,004 yards and 11 touchdowns in opposition to six interceptions. In every of his first three seasons, Lawrence performed no less than 16 video games.
(Picture: Mike Carlson / Getty Pictures)