Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair ejected, apologizes for controversial tackle on Trevor Lawrence: ‘You don’t know my heart’

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When Texans veteran linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair delivered a forearm to the facemask of sliding Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday, the concussion-causing hit knocked the former top overall pick out of the game.

And the controversial tackle that struck Lawrence in the chin with the back of his helmet striking the ground hard set off an intense debate and heated conversations around the league about whether it was a dirty play and what discipline is forthcoming. The play is still being reviewed by the league office and its disciplinary officers and a suspension is the expectation for Al-Shaair, who has never been suspended before, along with a heavy fine.

Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and there were two separate altercations stemming from the incident with Jaguars players irate at his illegal tackle. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, who wasn’t ejected for his retaliatory actions, shoved Al-Shaair to the ground immediately after the play and that led up to a huge fight by the Jaguars’ sideline and bench area.

The shot from Al-Shaair was immediately characterized as a “dirty hit,” by Jaguars players and by former players and television analysts. Texans players rose to Al-Shaair’s defense. And he issued a lengthy apology statement and explanation Monday morning, defending his character and intentions on social media after not conducting interviews after the game in the locker room.

“I’ve always played the game as hard as I could,” Al-Shaair wrote. “Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that. My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play. And when the game is over go home to your family because it’s not personal, it’s just competition! I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happened in the blink of an eye.

“To Trevor, I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game, we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them, especially one that’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’ To the rest of his teammates, I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that.”

Al-Shaair was called several nasty names on social media, attacking him for his Muslim faith and for supporting the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund through the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats initiative.

“To the rest of the people who I’ve been called every single name in the book from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and Islamaphobic fans and people, you don’t know my heart nor my character, which I don’t need to prove to any of you,” Al-Shaair wrote. “God knows my intentions and anyone who has ever been a teammate or a friend of mine knows my heart.”

And Al-Shaair’s teammates came to his defense, including defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. providing his perspective on what happened.

“Azeez plays fast, man, he plays physical,” Settle told KPRC 2. “He’s one of the faster linebackers. He’s not a dirty player, at all. I don’t think his intentions was to hurt him. He’s just trying to get us off the field, he’s trying to get the offense back on the field and we praise how he plays. We know he’s not intentional like that. Plays like that happen.

“I’m behind Azeez. That’s my brother. Even though it was a bad play, I’m behind him. He plays good ball. That was nothing back in the day. Obviously, the game has changed. We got to abide by the rules. I feel like we’ll do better in that situation next time. we don’t need to lose one of our stars on defense I feel like it’s a learning experience.”

On the play, Texans nickel Jimmie Ward was nearby as he was in the vicinity of the collision. Many have said Lawrence slid too late to protect himself. Several others have emphasized that shouldn’t matter.

“I feel like he slid late,” Ward said. “It’s a matter of seconds. You’ve got to make your mind up. I’ve been in these situations where the quarterback tries to get those extra yards instead of just giving himself up. I’m not saying who’s right or who’s wrong. I’m praying for Trevor and I hope he’s okay. Azeez plays real hard. That’s his mentality. He plays hard. I don’t think he tried to do it on purpose. It’s a matter of seconds and he’s trying to stop him from getting the first down.”

Lawrence appeared to be briefly unconscious before being ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion. Lawrence absorbed an elbow-forearm blow to his facemask. Lawrence was not taken to a hospital and later gave a positive update on social media.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me,” Lawrence wrote. “I’m home and feeling better.”

A sliding Lawrence, normally afforded protection from a huge hit like this one as a quarterback who was down on the field skidding across the turf, was absolutely nailed in the chin by Al-Shaair as he launched himself into the tackle to stop a sliding Lawrence. It was an explosive hit and will undoubtedly draw a heavy fine from the NFL league office, whose disciplinary officers will likely consider a potential suspension of Al-Shaair. The Texans have a bye next week followed by a home game against the Miami Dolphins the following week.

“It’s unfortunate with the hit, with Azeez,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “You know, it’s not what we’re coaching. Want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, get a penalty there. Have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down. Unfortunate play, not representative of who Azeez is.

“He’s a smart player, really great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there. His loss really affected us on the defensive side. Just not what we’re coaching. Didn’t want to see the melee and all the aftermath. That’s not what we’re about. Not representative of us. I’ll talk to Azeez, address him personally, and we’ll move forward from it.”

Al-Shaair, signed to a three-year, $34 million contract this offseason, is a team captain who was involved in a controversial play earlier this season when he had a questionable hit on Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams in the second week of the season.

Surrounded by Bears players on their sideline, Al-Shaair punched running back Roschon Johnson. The punch didn’t draw a penalty, but the league office fined Al-Shaair $11,817. Al-Shaair has never been suspended during his six years in the NFL after going undrafted out of Florida Atlantic.

This latest situation has drawn heavy criticism, especially from Jaguars players.

“It was a dirty hit,” sEngram, who wasn’t ejected after shoving Al-Shaair to the ground, told Jacksonville reporters. “Obviously those hits are always in question. Trevor was going down and I saw it out of my peripheral, I got a pretty clear view of it, and in that moment, just instincts. It just didn’t feel like a clean hit, so just go stick up for my quarterback. I mean, I saw him sliding and then I saw the hit, and then just, honestly, it just took over. I just knew it was wrong. It was just a dirty play, and you stick up for your guys.”

Added Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen: “That was a dumb hit on his part. At the end of the day he’s just playing football, but the way we’ve changed the rules of how we play, we go over these things. We talk about these things. We know how to play football. A couple of years ago, that would’ve been a great hit, but now that wasn’t a good play on him. I am not going to sit up there and say, does he deserve to get suspended or not. That’s not my call at that moment. It wasn’t smart.”

After the pair of fights, Al-Shaair was ejected, per referee Land Clark to a pool reporter for “an illegal hit on the quarterback, unnecessary, to the neck and head area.”

Al-Shaair and Jaguars offensive guard Brandon Scherff argued before teammates Joe Mixon and Henry To’oTo’o intervened along with Will Anderson Jr. who was struck by a water bottle while walking Al-Shaair to the locker room. That fan was ejected.

Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones was ejected after leaving the bench to throw a punch at a Texans player.

The hit came at the close of Lawrence’s six-yard run and left him down on the ground with his arms in a fencing posture common from brain injuries. He was carted off the field. He wrote on social media Sunday night that he’s home and “feeling better.”

Texans players, including quarterback C.J. Stroud, expressed concern for Lawrence as well as support for Al-Shaair.

“I just want to say prayers to Trevor, I really hope and pray he’s okay,” Stroud said. “Prayers to his family as well. But, yeah, still rocking with Azeez. I don’t think that was his intent, and I pray that Trevor is okay and his family is right there with him.”

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said: “It’s a play that really has no business being in our league.”

Several players, including former NFL safety Ryan Clark were critical of Al-Shaair on social media.

“That’s bull by Azeez Al-Shaair!!” Clark wrote. “You just dive over the QB’s head when they slide. You make sure they go down but you don’t go to the players helmet like that. I 100% agree with an ejection. And 100% there’s supposed to be a fight! Jaguars did the right thing.

Lawrence was down on the ground and groggy for several minutes and appeared to use the fencing involuntary hand movement that is indicative of a serious concussion. He was carted off the field. Lawrence’s reaction to the hit was reminiscent of how Miami Dolphins oft-concussed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa moved his hands involuntarily after a concussion earlier this season.

Fox broadcaster Daryl Johnston, a retired former Dallas Cowboys fullback, was highly critical of Al-Shaair during the broadcast.

“It’s everything you’re not supposed to do,” Johnston said. “Everything. You’ll see this in slow motion and Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you’re trying to prevent in this situation. It’s reckless. It’s disrespectful.

“There’s an honor that you give to your opponent on the football field and you respect him. And there’s opportunities to be physical and give big hits and play this game in that manner. And there’s other times when there’s a respect that you grant to your opponent.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com