NFL VP Rips Azeez Al-Shaair: 'Your Lack of Sportsmanship and Respect... Is Troubling'

As part of an announcement Tuesday that Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been suspended three games for his illegal hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence this past weekend, Al-Shaair was scolded by NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan.

In part, Runyan wrote: "Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL. ... Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that Al-Shaair will appeal his suspension.

The hit, which occurred during the second quarter of Sunday's 23-20 Texans win, saw Al-Shaair strike a sliding Lawrence, causing Lawrence's head to hit the turf hard:

Lawrence was diagnosed with a concussion and he did not return to the game.

Following Al-Shaair's late hit on Lawrence, several teammates rushed to Lawrence's defense, resulting in a sizable melee and a lengthy stoppage to the game.

Al-Shaair was penalized for the hit and ejected, but Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones was also penalized and ejected for retaliating on behalf of his quarterback, which resulted in offsetting penalties.

After the game, Al-Shaair took to social media to apologize for the hit on Lawrence, noting that it happened "in the blink of an eye" and it wasn't his intent to injure Lawrence.

Sunday's game marked Lawrence's return to action after missing the previous two contests due to a shoulder injury.

Al-Shaair, 27, is in the midst of his sixth NFL season overall and his first with the Texans after previous stints as a member of the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans.

After starting 17 games for the Titans last season, Al-Shaair has started all 10 games he has appeared in this season, recording 68 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

Per Spotrac, Al-Shaair has been fined multiple times by the NFL for on-field incidents dating back to last season. He was fined a total of nearly $25,000 last season due to a roughing the passer penalty and a facemasking infraction, and he was fined nearly $12,000 for his involvement in a fight during a game against the Chicago Bears earlier this season.

Bears running back Roschon Johnson confronted Al-Shaair after a hit to quarterback Caleb Williams near the sidelines, prompting Al-Shaair to punch Johnson in the facemask. Al-Shaair was neither ejected nor suspended for the incident.

Al-Shaair's three-game suspension for the hit on Lawrence will cause him to miss meetings with the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. He is eligible to return in Week 18 against the Titans.

The 8-5 Texans hold a two-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC South lead, and it is effectively a three-game lead since they swept the season series with the Colts.

That means Houston is heavily favored to reach the playoffs, and Al-Shaair is in line to return just one week before the start of the postseason.