The NFL suspended Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair three games for repeated violations of player safety rules after his hit to the head of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday.
Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, announced the suspension Tuesday, adding in a letter to Al-Shaair that the league deemed the hit “unacceptable” and that his “continued disregard” for rules governing player safety “will not be tolerated.”
Al-Shaair was ejected in the second quarter of Houston’s victory Sunday over Jacksonville after his violent blow to the face mask of Lawrence while he was sliding to the ground, causing the star quarterback to suffer a concussion.
“You were involved in a play that the [NFL] considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules,” Runyan wrote Tuesday. “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.”
Lawrence clenched both fists after the hit — movements consistent with what’s referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury. He was on the ground for several minutes as teammates came to his defense and mobbed Al-Shaair.
Runyan said in his letter that Al-Shaair “proceeded to engage in a brawl, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask,” and also added that after being ejected, the six-year veteran “removed your helmet and reengaged with your opponent while walking down and across the field, which started 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.
Last week, Al-Shaair was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard. He also was fined $11,817 earlier this year after he punched Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline wasn’t flagged.
“Your 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. “Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.”
Al-Shaair took to social media Monday to apologize to Lawrence, saying first that he didn’t see Lawrence sliding until “it was too late” and that it happened “in the blink of an eye” before adding that he “would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them.”
Al-Shaair also said he understood why Jacksonville’s players came to the defense of Lawrence in the brawl following the hit, but Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said later Monday that Jaguars players “overreacted” to the late hit.
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Monday that the team would wait until Lawrence clears the concussion protocol before deciding whether to shut him down for the remainder of the season. He also said they would take Lawrence’s sprained left AC joint into consideration, though he added that injury did not get aggravated by Al-Shaair’s hit.
ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime, Michael DiRocco and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
