(This story was updated to add new information.)
The NFL has reached a verdict.
Azeez Al-Shaair won’t be suiting up for the Houston Texans anytime soon.
According to the league office, the NFL will uphold Al-Shaair’s three-game suspension for the hit against Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence in Sunday’s win.
Hearing officer Ramon Foster, jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, has upheld the three-game suspension of Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) December 4, 2024
Al-Shaair, the Texans’ defensive captain, tried to appeal the suspension on Wednesday in a meeting with former NFL offensive lineman Ramon Foster. After further review, Foster upheld the length, meaning Al-Shaair won’t return until Week 18’s season finale against the Tennessee Titans.
During the second quarter on a second-and-7 play, Al-Shaair drilled Lawrence in the head as Lawrence was trying to slide, knocking him out and giving him a concussion. The hit led to a brawl between the two sides, eventually factoring into Al-Shaair’s ejection.
Since the incident, Al-Shaair has apologized for play on social media. Lawrence was placed on injured reserve Wednesday afternoon, thus ending his season.
After the verdict,, Al-Shaair posted on social media, “IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN! SEE YOU SOON…
IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN!🖕🏾SEE YOU SOON…🃏 pic.twitter.com/GA5FMglMjz
— Azeez Al-shaair (@A_train2_) December 5, 2024
Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of policy and rules administration, wrote in his letter to Al-Shaair that the league deemed the hit “unacceptable” and that his “continued disregard” for rules governing player safety “will not be tolerated.”
“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 wrote.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio called out the league Tuesday afrernoon for its language in its letter against Al-Shaair and asked for consistency in how it hands out suspensions.
“We’re talking about some of the commentary that has been made about his character, about the person that he is, about what his intentions are, from people who, quite frankly, don’t know anything about Azeez Al-Shaair,” Caserio said.
“Quite frankly, it’s embarrassing.”
Al-Shaair, who signed a three-year, $34 million contract with the Texans this offseason after a breakout year with the Tennessee Titans, will also forfeit $112,745 per game,
