HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair took to X on Monday morning to apologize to Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence after his violent blow to the quarterback’s facemask led to him being carted off the sector with a concussion.
Back within the beginning lineup after lacking two video games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play within the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday. He initiated a slide earlier than Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback.
In the lengthy publish, Al-Shaair, who was ejected for the hit, first stated he didn’t see Lawrence sliding till “it was too late” and that it occurred “within the blink of a watch” earlier than saying he was sorry for the hit.
“To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up occurring,” Al-Shaair wrote. “Before the sport we spoke and I informed you ways nice it was to see you again out on the sector and wished you nicely. I might by no means wish to see any participant harm due to successful I placed on them, particularly one which was dominated ‘late’ or ‘pointless.’”
Lawrence clenched each fists after the hit — actions according to what’s known as the “fencing response,” which may be frequent after a traumatic mind damage. He was on the bottom for a number of minutes as teammates got here to his protection and mobbed Al-Shaair.
Al-Shaair was ejected for “an unlawful hit on the quarterback, pointless, to the neck and head space,” referee Land Clark stated in a pool report Sunday. Jaguars rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones additionally was ejected for throwing a punch through the melee.
As Al-Shaair was leaving the sector, followers began screaming at him. Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff joined in, prompting one other altercation with Al-Shaair. Texans teammate Will Anderson grabbed Al-Shaair and was escorting him off the sector when a fan threw a water bottle and hit Anderson within the helmet. The fan was later ejected.
Later within the publish on X, Al-Shaair stated he understood why Jacksonville’s gamers got here to the protection of Lawrence within the brawl following the hit.
“I can perceive you having his again and defending him in a state of affairs like that,” Al-Shaair wrote.
Then he complained about reporters and others for his or her commentary about him within the wake of the hit.
“To the remainder of the individuals who I’ve been referred to as each single identify within the guide from (to) reporters with their fingers prepared for a narrative to search out their villain, to racist and Islamophobic followers and other people, you don’t know coronary heart nor my character which I don’t have to show to any of you,” he wrote. “God is aware of my intentions and anybody who has ever been a teammate or good friend of mine is aware of my coronary heart.”
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson stated Sunday it was a play that ”actually has no enterprise being in our league,” and Houston coach DeMeco Ryans stated “that’s not what we’re teaching.”
Last week, Al-Shaair was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans working again Tony Pollard.
He was fined earlier this yr after he punched Bears working again Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred throughout a scuffle that began after his exhausting shot on quarterback Caleb Williams close to the sideline wasn’t flagged.
Al-Shaair, a sixth-year professional, will definitely obtain a effective for the hit on Lawrence and is also suspended.
At the start of his publish on X, Al-Shaair stated he’s all the time performed the sport exhausting and that he would by no means deliberately attempt to hurt anybody.
“My purpose is to hit you as exhausting as I can after which pray you’re nonetheless capable of stand up and play the following play,” he wrote. “And when the sport is over go residence to your loved ones unhurt as a result of it’s not private, it’s simply competitors! We each try to do the identical factor which is present for our households!”
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AP Sports Writer Mark Long contributed to this report.
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