The NFL announced on Wednesday that it would… Three-match suspension for Azeez Al-Shair.
The Houston Texans linebacker hit Trevor Lawrence in the head and neck area, landing him on injured reserve, likely ending his season.
Al-Shaair posted an apology to Lawrence on Monday, but on Wednesday he took a different route.
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Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, #0, is held back by Houston Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, #39, after being ejected in the second quarter at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on December the Jacksonville Jaguars. 1, 2024. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
He posted on Instagram a photo collage with the cryptic caption: “IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, YOU WILL BE VILLAIN! (middle finger emoji) SEE YOU SOON”
The four photos he posted were of himself entering the field, a pro-Palestinian cobbler, a photo of Heath Ledger as The Joker and a quote that read: “There is beauty in being rejected, misunderstood, unseen and unprotected by people. It teaches us that you must rely on Allah for everything.”
Lawrence posted on X on Sunday night that he was “home and feeling better,” but the IR stint will see him miss the next four games.
That would make Lawrence eligible to return for the final game of the season, but it’s hard to imagine the Jaguars risking anything in a meaningless game. In fact, the only meaning for them might be the No. 1 overall pick of the draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, #16, slides down the field for Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, #0, in the second quarter at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 1, 2024. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
TREVOR LAWRENCE PLACED ON BOUND RESERVE, LIKELY TO END HIS SEASON AFTER DANGEROUS TRAIN
Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, announced Al-Shaair would be suspended without pay in a lengthy letter, calling the hit “unacceptable and a serious violation of the laws of the game.”
The goal resulted in a fight between the two teams, but Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said the Jags overreacted.
‘Too bad Trevor got hurt. I hope Trevor is doing well, but it’s also true that if we slide, we have to go down. If we go out of bounds, we go out of bounds and that rule is around the quarterbacks, and we want our quarterbacks to be safe in the league, so we just have to be safe. When we slide, make sure we keep our heads down. And the whole thing is Azeez: he hits the guy. but their sideline overreacts and it turns into a fight.
“It wasn’t our guys. It’s their team that overreacted, pushed our guy and dragged our guy to the sideline, so there’s no need for that on that side. We have to be better on the sideline as well, with both teams.”
Players fight after Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, #0, hit Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence with a late hit during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, December 1, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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Runyan also pointed to Al-Shaair’s involvement in the on-field brawl that broke out after the hit, as well as previous hits he had suffered that led to his punishment.
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