Azeez Al-Shaair, linebacker for Houston Texans, is under a three-game suspension due to a controversial hit against quarterback Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The penalty has stirred up big debates on protection and the late-hit penalty by tail-end officials after reviewing the incident.
It happened late in the second quarter when Lawrence, having just released a pass, was hit by Al-Shaair well after the ball had left his hands. The hit seemed unnecessary because Lawrence was already out of the pocket and the ball was clearly in the air, and it drew immediate flags from the officiating crew. Although Lawrence was able to remain in the game, the power of the hit raised some concerns about quarterbacks and especially the NFL’s attention to guarding its prized signal-callers more intensively.
After a thorough review, the NFL’s Player Safety Division labeled the hit “unacceptable” and suspended due to late, unnecessary contact. According to league officials, Al-Shaair’s actions ran against the NFL’s player safety rules implemented to prevent hits that can put players, especially quarterbacks, at significant risk of injury.
The NFL has clear guidelines regarding hits on quarterbacks, particularly in scenarios where they are defenseless or have already thrown the ball,” said NFL representative Sarah Thomas. “This is a reckless and avoidable hit. The three games suspended reflect the severity of the hit but also the league’s commitment toward its players.
Al-Shaair regretted his actions in a statement responding to the suspension. “I want to apologize to Trevor Lawrence, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and my teammates. My intent was never to hurt anyone. I know better, and I will learn from this mistake moving forward,” he said.
The absence of Al-Shaair would greatly be missed in the Texan defense as he has been a significant addition to the linebackers this season. The suspension will give the chance to the backup linebackers, but it also raises questions about the consistency of player safety laws across the league.
It had many raising concerns over the protection of the quarterbacks, as the fans and analysts have been pointing towards the increase in roughing-the-passer penalties which means the league is being more than tough on the safety of quarterbacks. Fortunately for the Jaguars, Lawrence remained unscathed and led his team further into a win later on.
Al-Shaair’s suspension is the latest in a string of disciplinary actions made by the NFL this season for dangerous hits. Considering the growing concern of the league regarding player safety, an incident like this reminds all to stick by the rules made to shield players from such unwanted harm.
