Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence throws a pass while he is pressured by Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback. Added tight end Evan Engram: “I saw him sliding and then I saw the hit, and then, honestly, just took over. I just knew it was wrong. It was just a dirty play, and you stick up for your guys.”
“Just unfortunate play, not representative of who Azeez is. Like, he’s a smart player, really great leader for us.” Officials and coaches got the teams under control before play resumed. Al-Shaair was not in the locker room when it opened to reporters after the game. Lawrence, the top pick in the 2021 draft, missed a game for the first time in his professional career in 2023 because of a sprained right shoulder sustained in Week 16. He also missed significant practice time because of other injuries: a sprained left knee in Week 6, a sprained right ankle in Week 13 and a concussion in Week 15.