The NFL announced on Tuesday that Houston's Azeez Al-Shaair has been suspended without pay for three games due to repeated violations of player safety rules. The suspension comes after Al-Shaair's hit to the head of Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence, resulting in a concussion for the quarterback.
NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan issued the punishment, citing Al-Shaair's history of multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons.
In the game against Jacksonville, Lawrence, who had returned to the starting lineup after missing two games with a shoulder injury, was hit by Al-Shaair during a second-quarter play. As Lawrence scrambled left and initiated a slide, Al-Shaair raised his forearm and delivered a blow to the defenseless quarterback.
Following the hit, Lawrence displayed signs of a potential traumatic brain injury, including the 'fencing response,' characterized by clenched fists. He remained on the ground for several minutes as teammates rushed to his aid and confronted Al-Shaair.
The incident occurred during Houston's 23-20 victory over Jacksonville. The NFL's decision to suspend Al-Shaair underscores the league's commitment to enforcing player safety protocols and penalizing actions that endanger the well-being of players on the field.
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