Houston's Al-Shaair expresses regret for the tackle on Jacksonville's Lawrence that resulted in a concussion.

Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston team issued an apology on X on Monday morning to Trevor Lawrence of Jacksonville following a severe hit that resulted in the quarterback being carted off the field due to a concussion. Lawrence, who had just returned to the starting lineup after missing two games due to a sprained left shoulder, attempted to scramble left during a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston's 23-20 victory on Sunday. As he began to slide, Al-Shaair raised his forearm and struck the vulnerable quarterback. In a lengthy post, Al-Shaair, who was ejected for the incident, expressed that he did not notice Lawrence sliding until it was "too late" and described the event as occurring "in the blink of an eye." He conveyed his remorse, stating, "To Trevor, I genuinely apologize for what transpired." He recalled their pre-game conversation where he expressed happiness at seeing Lawrence back on the field and wished him well. Al-Shaair emphasized that he would never wish harm upon any player due to a hit he delivered, particularly one deemed "late" or "unnecessary." Following the hit, Lawrence exhibited a clenched fist posture, indicative of the "fencing response," which is often observed after a traumatic brain injury. He remained on the ground for several minutes as teammates rallied to his side and confronted Al-Shaair.

Ryans commented on the incident involving the quarterback, stating, "It is unfortunate that the quarterback was hit. However, this situation is complex; many quarterbacks today exploit the rules by sliding late in an attempt to gain additional yards. Consequently, the responsibility falls heavily on the defender. One cannot predict a player's intentions; it is unclear whether he will continue running or if he will slide late, leading to a potential collision. It is regrettable that Trevor sustained an injury, and I hope he recovers swiftly. Nonetheless, if a quarterback chooses to slide, it is imperative that he does so decisively." Referee Land Clark reported that Al-Shaair was ejected for "an illegal hit on the quarterback, deemed unnecessary, targeting the neck and head area." Additionally, Jaguars rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones was ejected for throwing a punch during the ensuing altercation. As Al-Shaair exited the field, he faced a barrage of insults from fans. Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff also became involved, which led to another confrontation with Al-Shaair. Texans teammate Will Anderson was seen escorting Al-Shaair off the field when a fan threw a water bottle, striking Anderson in the helmet. The individual responsible for the incident was subsequently ejected. In a later post on X, Al-Shaair expressed his understanding of why Jacksonville's players defended Lawrence during the brawl that followed the hit.

I can appreciate your loyalty in defending him during such a situation,” Al-Shaair stated. However, Ryans expressed his disapproval of the Jaguars' reaction following the hit. “Azeez makes the tackle, yet their sideline escalates the situation, resulting in a brawl,” Ryans remarked. “It was not our players who instigated it; their team overreacted, pushing our player and dragging him toward the sidelines. Such behavior is unjustifiable.” In a subsequent part of his post, Al-Shaair voiced his frustration regarding the media and others who commented on him following the incident. “To those who have labeled me with every conceivable name—from reporters eager to craft a narrative to fans exhibiting racism and Islamophobia—you do not understand my character or my heart, which I feel no need to validate to any of you,” he expressed. “God is aware of my intentions, and anyone who has been my teammate or friend can attest to my true nature.” Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson remarked on Sunday that the play in question “should not be part of our league,” while Ryans added, “that is not the approach we advocate.”

Last week, Al-Shaair was penalized and subsequently fined $11,255 for a late hit on Titans running back Tony Pollard that occurred out of bounds. Earlier this year, he faced a fine for striking Bears running back Roschon Johnson during a sideline altercation in Week 2, which was provoked by a hard tackle on quarterback Caleb Williams that went unpenalized. As a sixth-year professional, Al-Shaair is likely to incur a fine for the hit on Lawrence and may also face suspension. In his post on X, Al-Shaair emphasized his commitment to playing the game with intensity, asserting that he would never aim to injure anyone. He stated, “My objective is to deliver a strong hit and hope that you can recover to continue playing.” He further expressed, “When the game concludes, I wish for you to return home to your family unharmed, as it is not personal; it is merely competition. We are both striving to achieve the same goal, which is to support our families.”