Azeez Al-Shaair Suspension Upheld After Texans LB's Hit Injured Jags' Trevor Lawrence

NFL appeals officer Ramon Foster upheld the three-game suspension given to Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for his illegal hit on Trevor Lawrence, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, which left the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback with a concussion.

Lawrence was placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to the concussion, though he'll miss the remainder of the season as he is expected to have surgery "to repair a significant AC joint injury in his left shoulder over the coming weeks," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Al-Shaair, meanwhile, will miss games against the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 15, the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 21 and the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas. He'll be eligible to return for Houston's season finale against the Tennessee Titans in Week 18.

It's a tough stretch for the 8-5 Texans, who hold a comfortable two-game lead in the AFC South over the 6-7 Titans but are fighting for playoff seeding. If the postseason began today, the Texans would be the No. 4 seed and would face the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) in the Wild Card Round.

As for the severity of Al-Shaair's punishment, the NFL's vice president of policy and rules administration, Jon Runyan, cited a number of factors.

"You were involved in a play that the [NFL] considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules," he wrote. "Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars' quarterback Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide. ... You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact."

He also noted that after the Jaguars took issue with the hit and retaliated, Al-Shaair "proceeded to engage in a brawl, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask" and noted that the veteran linebacker took off his helmet while walking off the field "and reengaged with your opponent while walking down and across the field, which started another physical confrontation near the end zone."

Al-Shaair's track record of being fined this season also seemingly played a part in the three-game suspension. He was fined $11,817 for punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson in Week 2 during a sideline scuffle, and both flagged and fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Tennessee running back Tony Pollard in Week 12.

"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," Runyan noted. "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."

Al-Shaair apologized to Lawrence on social media for the hit and said his intent wasn't to injure the quarterback. But the Texans will be without their second-leading tackler for the next three games regardless.