Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will need surgery to repair an AC joint injury in his left shoulder NFL.com.
Lawrence initially injured his shoulder in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles and missed two games before returning Sunday against the Houston Texans. He was the victim of an illegal hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, which landed him on season-ending injured reserve.
The hit caused a short but intense fight between the two teams after Al-Shaair was marked during the game and later received a three-match suspension without pay.
Lawrence’s fourth NFL season ended after a disappointing 2-10 start. It is the second year in a row that Lawrence has injured his shoulder.
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) leaves the field on a cart after being injured on a late hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of a game on Sunday, December 1, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Last season, he suffered a shoulder injury in a 30–12 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. He missed the team’s next game, the first he had missed in his career due to injury. He had only missed college games at Clemson when he tested positive for COVID in 2020.
Lawrence, who signed a $275 million contract extension with the Jaguars this offseason, will undergo the second major surgery of his life. He previously underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder before being drafted first overall in 2021.
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The hit has become one of the most controversial moments of the 2024 NFL season, sparking a backlash against Al-Shaair and sparking conversations about player safety among current and former players, such as Tom Brady and Stephon Gilmore.
Al-Shaair has apologized for the blow and insisted it was not intentional. The linebacker appealed his suspension, but the NFL enforced it.
Al-Shaair also spoke out against “racist and Islamophobic fans” in the wake of the public reaction to the incident.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) slides as Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) makes a late hit during the second quarter on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. (Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)
“I’ve always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intention of hurting anyone and anyone who knows me knows that. My goal is to hit you as hard as I can and then I pray you’re still in are able to hit up and play the next piece,” he said in a statement. “And when the game is over, go home to your family unscathed, because it’s not personal! It’s just competition. We’re both trying to do the same thing: take care of our families!”
“I really didn’t see him slide until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor, I sincerely apologize for what happened in the end. Before the game we talked and I told you how it went.” It was great to see you back on the field and I wished you the best. I would never want a player to get hurt by a hit I give him, especially if it is deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary’. For the rest of his teammates, I can certainly understand you standing behind him and defending him in a situation like this.”
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Al-Shaair was fined earlier this year after punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline during a Week 2 game. The incident occurred during a scuffle that started after Al-Shaair’s hard shot on the Bears -quarterback Caleb Williams was not flagged on the sideline.
The hit against Lawrence Sunday resulted in several Jaguars players pouncing on Al-Shaair in retaliation, leading to the violent fight.
Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was the first player to see Al-Shaair pushing and pulling after the hit before other Jacksonville players followed suit.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence takes a break during the second half of a game against the Miami Dolphins on September 8, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Head coach Doug Pederson defended his team for its response on Wednesday.
“We’re not out to hurt anyone. We’re not out to ruin careers. We’re out to win a football match and play hard within the rules. That’s our job. That’s how to coach we play it, that’s how we play it.” ,” Pederson said at a team press conference.
“If they ask or suggest that we go after someone, we don’t do that. Flat out, we don’t do that. It’s not how I coach. It’s not how I’m going to coach these teams, these players.” We just go out and do our job. Play hard, play fast, play physically within the rules.”
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans suggested that Lawrence should share responsibility for the goal.
“We stand behind Azeez and everything that came from it,” Ryans said. “Obviously an unfortunate hit for a quarterback, but it’s twofold. A lot of quarterbacks these days are trying to take advantage of the late rule, and they’re trying to get an extra yard.
“Now you’re a defender, and there’s a lot of responsibility on the defender. … Too bad Trevor got hurt. We hope Trevor is doing well. But if we’re sliding, you have to go down too.”
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