Schefter: Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair Expected to Be Suspended for Hit on Trevor Lawrence

The expectation around the NFL is that Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will be suspended for his dirty and illegal hit to the head of Trevor Lawerence, per multiple reports, which knocked the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback out of Sunday's game with a concussion.

Al-Shaair was ejected from the contest after the hit, while Jaguars defensive back Jarrion Jones was also ejected for his retaliation.

After the game, Al-Shaair apologized for his hit on Lawrence, saying he didn't intend to hurt the quarterback and that he "genuinely didn't see him sliding until it was too late."

Lawrence's teammates were not happy with the hit, however.

"It was a dirty hit," tight end Evan Engram, who slammed Al-Shaair into the ground after the hit, told reporters. "Obviously those hits are always in question. Trevor was going down and I saw it out of my peripheral [vision]. I got a pretty clear view of it, and in that moment, just [reacted on] instincts. It just didn't feel like a clean hit, so just go stick up for my quarterback. I mean, I saw him sliding and then I saw the hit, and then just, honestly, it just took over. I just knew it was wrong. It was just a dirty play, and you stick up for your guys."

"That was a dumb hit on his [Al-Shaair's] part," defensive end Josh Hines-Allen added. "... At the end of the day he's just playing football, but again, the way we've changed the rules of how we play, we go over these things. We talk about these things. We know how to play football. A couple of years ago, that would've been a great hit, but now that wasn't a good play on him. I am not going to sit up there and say, does he deserve to get suspended or not? That's not my call at that moment. It wasn't smart."

Lawrence, meanwhile, posted an update on social media regarding his status after the game:

One consideration for the NFL while deciding on Al-Shaair's punishment could be his fine in September for punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson during a sideline scrap. Officials didn't see the punch at the time, so Al-Shaair wasn't ejected, but NFL officials later fined him for the infraction.