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The NFL has upheld Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's three-game suspension after his nasty hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Media.
The hit came in the second quarter of the Texans' 23-20 win over the Jaguars on Sunday. Lawrence was knocked out of the game with concussion and carted off the field and Al-Shaair was ejected for the late hit, which came as the Jaguars QB was trying to slide down on a scramble. The Jaguars have since placed Lawrence on IR, effectively ending his season.
Al-Shaair will miss a critical stretch of play for the Texans, who are looking to maintain their lead in the AFC South and earn a home playoff game in the wild card round. The Texans have a bye in Week 14 before taking on the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for the Texans' Week 18 clash with the Tennessee Titans.
Al-Shaair is a vital part of this Texans defense. Despite missing a game and more than half of Sunday's game against the Jaguars, the former 49ers standout is second on the team in total tackles with 68. He also has a pair of sacks and two forced fumbles this season.
Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair's hit sparks QB slide discourse
There was plenty of buzz going around the league and on social media after Trevor Lawrence was knocked out of Sunday's game. Was Azeez Al-Shaair's hit dirty? Should he have been suspended? How much is Lawrence at fault?
There was plenty of debate about whether Lawrence's slide was late (it wasn't). While the game moves very fast, Lawrence slid in time for Al-Shaair to not crush his head into the ground. Given the nature of the late hit and the forcible contact to Lawrence's head, a multi-game suspension is understandable.
However, the frustration from defenders for this kind of play overall is understandable. Everyone remembers Kenny Pickett famously faking a slide in the ACC Championship Game to open up a long touchdown run. Every week, quarterbacks around the NFL are always trying to take advantage of the extra protection that they are granted. Sometimes it's faking a slide. Sometimes it's looking like they're going to run out of bounds before cutting upfield at the last second.
Many current and former players, including Tom Brady, have come out in Al-Shaair's defense and highlighted that the defender is at a disadvantage at all times when the quarterback has the ball. That may be true, but this hit was still unnessecary.
Al-Shaair's track record isn't helping him here either. This hit came just a week after he hit Titans running back Tony Pollard way out of bounds. Al-Shaair also hit Bears quarterback Caleb Williams late earlier this season before punching a Bears player in the face on the sideline.
