Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was carted off the field in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans after linebacker Azeez Al-Shair delivered a late, hard hit while Lawrence was sliding. The Jaguars later ruled Lawrence out of the game with a concussion.
After the goal, Jaguars tight end Evan Engram ran up to Al-Shaair and shoved him while Lawrence remained on the ground. A scuffle ensued between Jaguars and Texans players as medical personnel attended to Lawrence.
Officials ejected Al-Shaair and Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones from the game for unnecessary roughness and Engram was assessed a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. Coaches and officials had to escort Al-Shair off the field because he continued to argue with Jaguars players, especially offensive lineman Brandon Scherff.
As Al-Shaair left the field, he exchanged words with Jaguars fans, who were seen throwing objects and trash at the 27-year-old linebacker.
Here’s what Texans QB CJ Stroud had to say about Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence. pic.twitter.com/JxsjNPoz9w
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 1, 2024
“(That goal) is not representative of us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told Fox Sports at halftime.
When asked for clarification on the expulsions of Al-Shaair and Jones, referee Land Clark said that Al-Shaair’s was for an illegal hit on Lawrence and Jones, because he came off the bench and threw a punch at a player. Clark said Engram was not ejected because his push “did not warrant a disqualification, but it was unnecessary roughness.”
Engram said he pressed Al-Shair because his instincts took over after he saw the hit on Lawrence and he wanted to stand up for the quarterback.
“It was a dirty hit,” Engram said. “Those hits are always up for debate. … I saw (Lawrence) slide and then I saw the hit. Honestly, (instinct) took over. I just knew it was wrong. It was just a dirty game and you stand up for your boys.
Trevor Lawrence slides ahead of Azeez Al-Shaair during the Jaguars-Texans game in Week 13. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)
Texans quarterback CJ Stroud said, “It was tough, man, to see Trev go out like that,” but defended Al-Shaair. “Azeez, I don’t think that’s his intention. … I know he didn’t intend to. He has to be more careful.”
Sunday was Lawrence’s first game back since Week 9, when he was recovering from a shoulder injury. Before suffering the concussion, Lawrence went 4-of-10 for 41 passing yards with an interception. Backup QB Mac Jones took Lawrence’s place and finished 20 of 32 for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
Lawrence tweeted Sunday night, thanking fans for their support.
‘I’m home and feeling better. It means a lot, thank you all,” Lawrence said.
Thank you to everyone who prayed/prayed for me. I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all🙌🏼
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) December 2, 2024
The Texans (8-5) defeated the Jaguars (2-10) 23-20. After the game, Lawrence walked from the locker room and towards the players’ exit with his wife Marissa.
Al-Shaair’s expulsion Sunday comes less than three months after the NFL fined him $11,817 for unnecessary roughness against the Chicago Bears. In the Week 2 meeting, Al-Shaair hit Caleb Williams near the sideline as the Bears quarterback went out of bounds. After the fight that resulted from that play, Al-Shaair threw a punch.
The NFL also penalized and later fined Al-Shair $11,255 for a late hit on the Tennessee Titans with Tony Pollard last week, which knocked Al-Shair out of bounds.
The 25-year-old Lawrence is in his fourth season with Jacksonville after being selected No. 1 overall in 2021. Through the Jaguars’ first nine games, Lawrence completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,004 yards and 11 touchdowns against six interceptions. In each of his first three seasons, Lawrence played at least 16 games.
(Photo: Mike Carlson/Getty Images)