JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence left EverBank Stadium with a smile, accompanied by his wife, signaling hope for the often-injured quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, following a tough game where the Jaguars lost 23-20 to the Houston Texans, Lawrence experienced a troubling moment when he was carted off the field after taking a hard hit to the facemask from linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. This incident ignited a brawl on the sideline and a subsequent scuffle.
“It’s a play that really doesn’t belong in our league,” remarked Jaguars coach Doug Pederson after the game, expressing strong disapproval of the hit.
Returning to action after missing two games due to a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled to the left during a second-and-7 play in the second quarter. As he began to slide, Al-Shaair struck him with his forearm, leading to the dangerous situation.
After the hit, Lawrence showed signs of distress, clenching his fists—reactions often seen after a traumatic brain injury, known as the “fencing response.” For several minutes, he lay on the ground as teammates rushed to support him and confront Al-Shaair over the perceived cheap shot, which could potentially lead to disciplinary action.
“That was a reckless hit on his part,” said Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen. “It’s tough to see. My first instinct was to defend my teammate—he’s our quarterback.”
Tight end Evan Engram shared his reaction as well: “I saw the slide, then the hit, and I just knew it was wrong. It felt like a dirty play, and we have to stick up for each other.”
Eventually, Lawrence was assisted to his feet and transported via cart off the field. Fortunately, he didn’t need to go to the hospital, although he was quickly ruled out due to a concussion.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out and prayed for me,” Lawrence posted on X hours after the game. “I’m home and feeling much better. Your support means a lot.”
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans described the incident as “unfortunate,” emphasizing that such behavior is not condoned within the team. “We want to be smarter and not hurt our team or take penalties,” he stated. “That play didn’t represent who Azeez is. He’s a smart player and a great leader.”
Referee Land Clark stated that Al-Shaair was ejected for an “illegal hit on the quarterback, unnecessary, to the neck and head area.” Additionally, Jaguars rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones was ejected for throwing a punch during the altercation.
As Al-Shaair left the field, frustrated fans began to yell at him. In response, Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff confronted Al-Shaair, escalating tensions once more. During this chaos, a fan threw a water bottle that struck Texans defensive end Will Anderson on the helmet, resulting in the fan’s ejection.
Thankfully, officials and coaches managed to restore order and resume play. However, Al-Shaair was notably absent from the locker room when it opened to reporters post-game.
“I just want to send my prayers to Trevor,” said Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. “I really hope he’s okay, and my thoughts are with his family. I still stand by Azeez; I don’t think it was intentional, and I’m hopeful for Trevor’s recovery.”
Following Lawrence’s departure, Mac Jones stepped in as quarterback and led the Jaguars during the fourth quarter, completing 20 of 32 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. However, Pederson was cautious about discussing Lawrence’s status moving forward, especially with the Jaguars now eliminated from contention in the AFC South.
As the first overall pick in the 2021 draft, Lawrence faced injuries this season, missing a game for the first time in his professional career due to a sprained right shoulder sustained in Week 16. He has also dealt with significant practice absences due to a sprained left knee in Week 6, a sprained right ankle in Week 13, and a concussion in Week 15.
“Trevor is a warrior,” Jones affirmed. “We’re all praying for him and have his back. It was incredible for him to play today; he’s a tough guy who wanted to win for the team. Unfortunately, we fell short, but we’ll continue to support him.”
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