Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been suspended three games for his illegal hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The suspension was issued by the NFL on Tuesday, December 3 after Al-Shaair made illegal contact with Lawrence’s head during a game between the Texans and Jaguars on Sunday, December 1.
“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,” Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, wrote in a letter to Al-Shaair. “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.”
The ruling comes comes less than three months after the NFL fined Al-Shaair $11,817 for unnecessary roughness for hitting Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline on September 15. A fight ensued after the hit, during which Al-Shaair threw a punch.
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Al-Shaair has the option to appeal the suspension. If the suspension holds, Al-Shaair would be eligible to return for the Texans’ Week 18 game against the Tennessee Titans on January 5.
Lawrence suffered a concussion on the play, while Al-Shaair was ejected. In the immediate aftermath, both teams took to the field for a melee that led to additional ejections and fines.
The Texans ultimately won the game, 23-20.
Lawrence issued an optimistic update about his condition after the game on Sunday evening.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me,” he wrote via X. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all 
.”
Al-Shaair took to Instagram on Monday, December 2 to issue an apology to Lawrence.
“I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late,” Al-Shaair wrote. “And it all happens 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 how it was great to see how back out on the field and wished you well.”
Lawrence previously sustained a shoulder injury during Jacksonville’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 3. The quarterback returned to the lineup for the Texans game after missing the Jaguars’ previous two due to the injury.
Al-Shaair said he “can definitely understand” why Lawrence’s teammates reacted to the hit the way they did but also defended himself from some of the criticism being thrown his way.
“I’ve always played the game as hard as I could,” he 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.”
He continued, “And when the game is over go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal it’s just competition! We both are trying to do the same thing which is provide for our families!”
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Al-Shaair, who is a practicing Muslim, also responded to attacks he had received after the hit on Lawrence.
“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 islamophobic fans and people,” he wrote, “you don’t know my heart nor my character which I don’t to prove to any of you.”
The Texans return to action without Al-Shaair on Sunday, December 15, against the Miami Dolphins.
Jacksonville plays Sunday, December 8, against the Tennessee Titans. A timetable for Lawrence’s return has not been announced.
