The NFL announced on Tuesday that they have suspended Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for three games without pay for his illegal hit to the head on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, which resulted in a concussion.
The incident occurred during the second quarter of the Jaguars’ 23-20 loss to the Texans on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla..when Al-Shaair dove and threw a forearm into Lawrence’s helmet as the quarterback was sliding to end a scramble. Lawrence left the game and was diagnosed with a concussion; while their altercation went on to trigger an on-field brawl between Texans and Jaguars players. Lawrence remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan said in his suspension letter to Al-Shaair that the linebacker “escalated” the ensuing brawl by pulling an opponent to the ground by his facemask, and said the league considered the illegal hit “unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules”. ,” Runyan wrote to Al-Shaair: “Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide. You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact.”
Al-Shaair apologized Monday for “what ended up happening,” and sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he plans to appeal the suspension. If Al-Shaair serves the full three games, he will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans.
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