The won on Sunday against the But that was just a footnote to the biggest takeaway from the afternoon at EverBank Stadium.
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was sent off just before halftime after what appeared to be a late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence. After the game, a fight broke out while Lawrence lay unconscious on the grass.
Al-Shair probably will from the league office later this week. Even if he tried to slow down, the hit seemed avoidable before the sixth-year linebacker ever got off his feet.
' Azeez Al-Shair was ejected from the Jaguars after hitting Trevor Lawrence
— Bargain & Baller (@njscommission)
But was the hit dirty? That's the question on everyone's minds heading into the bye week as Houston heads home. Some fans believe that the fact that he led with the elbow should not result in a suspension. Others think that despite being on the team, things look bad.
Of course, several other former players also expressed their opinions about the game on social media. Most believed the indecency was avoidable and disagreed with the decision.
Former Texans cornerback Steven Nelson was the deciding factor Former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III called Al-Shaair's play “dirty.”
Former NFL quarterback and Baylor Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III called it dirty play by Al-Shaair.
Prayers for Trevor Lawrence.
There is no place in football for dirty hits like this.— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII)
During the halftime broadcast, former Super Bowl defenseman Michael Strahan called the game “inexcusable” but mentioned that his antics would likely get him ejected from the game to avoid further trouble.
“I personally think he did that because he realized that if he had stayed in that game he wouldn't be protected,” Strahan said. “Everyone knows what he did, you don’t do that as a defensive player.”
ESPN analyst and former Super Bowl safety Ryan Clark called the hit “bull” and without question avoidable.
This is bullshit from Azeez Al-Shaair!! They simply jump over the QB's head when he slides. You make sure they go to the ground, but you don't go to the player's helmet like that. I agree 100% with an exclusion.
And 100% there should be a fight! Jaguars did the right thing.
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25)
While Al-Shair doesn't have many on his side, defensive tackle and teammate Tim Settle defended the captain's actions, stating that he wasn't a dirty player and it was a bang-bang game.
“I don’t think he had any intention of hurting anyone [Lawrence]. He was just trying to run us off the field. He tried to get our offense back on the field,” Settle told reporters after the game. “We praise the way he plays, but we know he doesn’t play that intentionally.”
The Texans enter the bye week with a record of 8-5. Al-Shaair and the team will return to the field on December 15th to face the Miami Dolphins.
