Trevor Lawrence Injury: Azeez Al-Shaair Apologizes After Hit on ...

A vicious hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence that knocked him out of a game with a concussion has been labeled a "dirty play" by a teammate and resulted in Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair posting an apology.

Lawrence was scrambling for yards on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter in the game in Jacksonville on Dec. 1 when he slid to the ground to end his run. Al-Shaair came flying up and used his forearm to smash into the facemask of the defenseless quarterback, violently slamming Lawrence's head into the ground.

Lawrence, 25, clenched both of his fists after the hit in what appeared to be a "fencing response," similar to a reaction shown by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa when suffering previous violent hits. The response is a natural physiological reaction to sustaining a traumatic brain injury, which happens in over 50% of TBI cases in athletes, Dr. Dennis Cardone, sports medicine physician and co-director of the NYU Langone Concussion Center, told TODAY.com in September.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence left the field on a cart after getting injured on a late hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. John Raoux / AP

Al-Shaair was ejected from the game for the hit, and Jaguars fans threw debris at him as he was taken off the field into the tunnel underneath the stands.

The hit on Lawrence also sparked a brawl between Jaguars teammates sticking up for their quarterback and Al-Shaair and his teammates. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was given a personal foul penalty by the officials for going after Al-Shaair.

Players fight after Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair hit Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. John Raoux / AP

Engram said the hit was “just a dirty play, and you stick up for your guys," according to Pro Football Talk.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson also reacted to the hit on Lawrence, who was back in the lineup after missing the previous two games with a sprained left shoulder.

"It's unfortunate. It's a play that really has no business being in our league," Pederson said in the postgame press conference.

Al-Shaair posted an apology to Lawrence on X on Dec. 2.

"I genuinely didn't see him sliding until it was too late," he wrote. "And it all happens in the blink of an eye.

"To Trevor i genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening."

He added that he spoke to Lawrence before the game and wished him well as he returned from his shoulder injury.

"I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that's deemed 'late' or 'unnecessary,'" he wrote.

Al-Shaair added that the play is not reflective of his character.

"To the rest of the people who I've been called every single name in the book from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and islamophobic fans and people, you don't know my heart nor my character which I don't need to prove to any of you."

Lawrence wrote on X on Dec. 1 that he is recovering well.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me,” he wrote. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all.”

Fans and players like former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III also weighed in on the tackle.

"There is no place in the game of football for dirty hits like this one," Griffin wrote on X.

Some called for Al-Shaair to be suspended by the NFL.

"Azeez Al-Shaair, whose cheap shot hit concussed Trevor Lawrence, should be suspended for the remainder of the season," ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. wrote on X.

"As a Texans fan I think Azeez Al-Shaair should absolutely be suspended for the rest of the season," one fan wrote.

"Suspend Azeez Al-Shaair for the rest of the season," another wrote.

Al-Shaair was previously fined $11,817 by the NFL after punching Bears running back Roschon Johnson during a game in September.

Scott Stump

Scott Stump is a trending reporter and the writer of the daily newsletter This is TODAY (which you should subscribe to here!) that brings the day's news, health tips, parenting stories, recipes and a daily delight right to your inbox. He has been a regular contributor for TODAY.com since 2011, producing features and news for pop culture, parents, politics, health, style, food and pretty much everything else.