Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair talked about it The latter delivered one to the former on Sunday.
Lawrence was taken out of the game in the second quarter after Al-Shair launched him and hit him in the head and neck area as the quarterback slipped to complete a six-yard rush that resulted in the Jaguars' benches and Texans were released and several skirmishes ensued.
On Sunday evening, Lawrence announced that he was at home recovering after entering the NFL's concussion protocol.
Thank you to everyone who cared for me/prayed for me. I'm home and feeling better. Means a lot to me, thank you all🙌🏼
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee)
“Thank you to everyone who cared for me/prayed for me. I'm home and feeling better. Means a lot to me, thank you everyone,” Lawrence said via X/Twitter.
Al-Shair was removed from the game and penalized for unnecessary roughness after the hit. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram and cornerback Jarrian Jones received personal foul penalties for retaliation amid the brawl; Jones was disqualified for throwing a punch at a player.
Al-Shaair apologized to Lawrence, addressed the quarterback's teammates and condemned discriminatory personal attacks he described in a post Monday morning after the game.
All praise is due to Allah🤲🏾
– Azeez Al-shair (@A_train2_)
“I always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intention of harming anyone and anyone who knows me knows that. My goal is to hit you as hard as I can. Then I pray that you are still able to get up and play the next piece. And when the game is over, go home to your family unscathed because it's nothing personal, it's just a competition! We are both trying to do the same thing, which is to provide for our families!” Al-Shair wrote.
“I really didn’t see it [Lawrence] slipped until it was too late. And everything happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor, I sincerely apologize for what ultimately happened. We chatted before the game and I told you how nice it was to see you back on the pitch and wished you all the best. I never want a player to get hurt because I give them a hit, especially if it is deemed “late” or “unnecessary.”
“For the rest of his teammates, I can definitely understand having your back and defending him in a situation like that. To the rest of the people I called every single name in the book by reporters, whose hands are ready to find a story that finds theirs [villain] To racist and Islamophobic fans and people: You don't know my heart or my character, which I don't have to prove to any of you. God knows my intentions and anyone who has ever been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart.”
Referee Land Clark and the match's refereeing team concluded, according to the match's pool report, that additional penalties were not warranted for Al-Shaair's behavior following his sending off.
Al-Shair removed his helmet and tackled several Jaguars, including offensive lineman Brandon Scherff and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., while being escorted off the field by teammates.
A fan threw a water bottle toward Al-Shaair, hitting Texas linebacker Will Anderson Jr. in the head as they approached the Houston locker room tunnel, prompting a heated reaction from Al-Shaair. The fan was later removed from the game.
As of press time, the NFL had not yet taken further disciplinary action regarding Al-Shair's tackle or the subsequent fights between the Jaguars and Texans.
