In recent years, the NFL has worked to legislate dirty hits out the game. Quarterbacks are protected from virtually all unnecessary contact. But there are times when players disregard those rules, and the resulting scene turns ugly.
That’s exactly what happened with Texans linebacker Aziz Al-Shaair’s hit on Trevor Lawrence. We won’t see a dirtier tackle all season.
With the Jaguars driving in the second quarter in Sunday’s Week 13 game, Lawrence took off scrambling on second down. The Jaguars quarterback started his slide early — actually a yard shy of the first-down marker — giving plenty of time for defenders to lay off on any hit.
Al-Shaair didn’t care. He went in late and launched his arm and shoulder right at Lawrence’s head, slamming Lawrence’s helmet hard against the turf.
Trevor Lawrence was hit late while trying to slide, which led to exchanges between Jags and Texans players. pic.twitter.com/34jwjiDLcN
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 1, 2024
That sparked a mini brawl as Lawrence laid hurt in a fencing posture. Al-Shaair was immediately ejected for the hit, as was Jacksonville’s Jarrian Jones who reacted in Lawrence’s defense.
Lawrence left the field on the cart and was ruled out with a concussion. NFL fans were justifiably furious at Al-Shaair who deserves a lengthy suspension. There’s no place in the game for those hits anymore.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
One of the dirtiest hits I’ve ever seen in this Texans Jaguars game. What a shame absolutely disgusting https://t.co/3GTj6eJwdL
— Santiago Ortiz (@santihortiz) December 1, 2024
Aziz Al-Shaair shouldn’t play in the league for a year pic.twitter.com/yxpzJqnsMY
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 1, 2024
How do you hit a sliding QB like this and then get up with your hands in the air unaware of what you've just done? Aziz Al-Shaair needs to be suspended!
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) December 1, 2024
Just a disgusting hit from Aziz Al-Shaair.
Every single Iaguar wanted a piece of retribution for his forearm/elbow shot to the head of clearly sliding Trevor Lawrence.
Ejected and should be suspended for at least as many games as Trevor Lawrence misses. pic.twitter.com/3boP5mS8AW
— Laurie Horesh (@LaurieHoresh) December 1, 2024
Aziz Al-Shaair shouldn’t see a football field again. https://t.co/rrawJmwoSE
— Corey Levine (@levineturf) December 1, 2024
https://twitter.com/HaroldRKuntz3/status/1863302237784510573
