JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars were left with a bitter taste in their mouths after a controversial hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair left quarterback Trevor Lawrence sidelined in the first half of their Week 13 matchup. The hit, which occurred late in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win at EverBank Stadium, drew strong reactions from players and coaches alike, as emotions ran high in the aftermath.
Despite keeping their composure during the game, Jaguars players voiced their displeasure with Al-Shaair’s actions well after the game had ended. The hit, which knocked Lawrence out of the contest with a concussion, prompted a chaotic series of events, including a heated altercation between both teams on the field.
A Controversial Hit
The incident occurred with just under two minutes remaining in the first half. Lawrence, who had been making a 6-yard scramble, slid to the turf to avoid taking a hit as the play came to a close. As Lawrence was in the process of sliding, Al-Shaair hit him in the head, making contact with the quarterback’s neck and helmet.
Tight end Evan Engram, who had a clear view of the play, reacted instinctively. “It was a dirty hit,” Engram said. “Those hits are always in question. Trevor was going down and I saw it out of my peripheral vision. I got a pretty clear view of it, and in that moment, just [reacted on] instincts. It just didn’t feel like a clean hit, so just go stick up for my quarterback.”
Engram’s anger was evident as he shoved Al-Shaair in the heat of the moment. “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,” Engram continued.
The incident triggered the first of two fights between the teams. Al-Shaair’s hit prompted a brawl that saw several players from both teams involved in the confrontation. By the time the officials regained control of the situation, Al-Shaair was ejected for an illegal hit to the head and neck area of the quarterback. Engram, who had retaliated against Al-Shaair, was penalized with a personal foul.
A Fracas on the Field
The brawl escalated as several Jaguars players, including right tackle Anton Harrison, tight end Brenton Strange, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., and defensive end Travon Walker, quickly came to Lawrence’s defense. The melee intensified as cornerback Jarrian Jones was also ejected for throwing a punch at an opposing player. The chaos occurred just a few yards away from Lawrence, who was down on the field in what appeared to be the “fencing posture” — a defensive reflex triggered by a head injury.
As the skirmish continued, officials surrounded Lawrence to protect him, and the situation was further exacerbated when a water bottle struck linebacker Will Anderson Jr. in the helmet. Anderson had been helping escort Al-Shaair off the field following his ejection. The game was briefly halted, and Al-Shaair was escorted to the locker room by his teammates. Meanwhile, Lawrence, who remained on the ground for several minutes, was eventually taken off the field on a cart and was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion.
Reactions from the Jaguars
Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen was among those who expressed their frustration over the hit. “That was a dumb hit on his [Al-Shaair’s] part,” Hines-Allen said. “At the end of the day, he’s just playing football, but again, 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.”
Al-Shaair, however, has been no stranger to controversy. In Week 2, during the Texans’ win over the Chicago Bears, Al-Shaair was fined for punching running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline after a questionable hit on quarterback Caleb Williams. For that incident, Al-Shaair was fined $11,817.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson expressed his dismay over the hit and the impact it had on Lawrence. “I was excited for Trevor to get back out there and start for our team and lead our football team this week,” Pederson said. “It’s unfortunate. It’s a play that has no business being in our league. I thought the officials did a great job of doing the best they could to get control of it and all of that.”
Texans’ Reaction
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, while acknowledging the hit, insisted that it was not in line with his team’s approach to the game. “Unfortunate with the hit with Azeez,” Ryans said. “It’s not what we’re coaching. Just want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt our team. I didn’t want to see the melee and all of the aftermath. It’s not what we’re about. I talked to Azeez and addressed it personally, and we’ll move forward.”
Ryans, who has built a reputation for maintaining discipline within the team, emphasized the importance of avoiding actions that could hurt the squad. He also mentioned that Al-Shaair, a player he has a history of working with, had been spoken to privately about the incident.
A Setback for Lawrence
Lawrence, who had been recovering from a sprained left AC joint suffered in Week 10, was making his first start since his injury. The Jaguars were hopeful that Lawrence would be able to lead them in their quest for a playoff berth, but his return was cut short by the concussion.
Before the injury, Lawrence had completed just 4 of 10 passes for 41 yards, including one interception. His early struggles were compounded by the hit that ultimately sidelined him for the remainder of the game.
This marked Lawrence’s second concussion in less than a year. The first came in a Week 15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in December 2023. As a result of the injury, Lawrence was placed into the league’s concussion protocol. The team later provided an update on his condition, revealing that he was at home and feeling better.
“I hope and pray he’s OK,” said Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. “Praying to his family as well. Still rocking with Azeez. I don’t think that was his intent.”
The Aftermath
As the Jaguars reflect on the events that unfolded during the game, they now face an uncertain future without their star quarterback. Lawrence’s injury has raised concerns, especially considering his recent history of concussions. The team is set to evaluate his condition as they prepare for upcoming games, but for now, their focus is on the aftermath of the contentious hit and the impact it has had on both teams.
While the game ended in a narrow defeat for the Jaguars, the emotions and concerns surrounding Lawrence’s injury are likely to linger for much longer. As the league continues to grapple with player safety issues, particularly around head injuries, this incident only underscores the importance of vigilance in maintaining both the physical and mental well-being of players.
With Lawrence sidelined for the remainder of the game, the Jaguars now face an uphill battle as they look to adjust to life without their starting quarterback. The team’s resilience will be tested in the coming weeks, as they work to overcome this setback and remain in playoff contention.