Moments after Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence lay motionless on the grass after taking a hit from Texans defenseman Azeez Al-Shaair, the teams became involved in a huge brawl that spilled into the sideline.
Lawrence ran down for a first down and slid to give himself up to the play. Al-Shaair didn’t stop and delivered a vicious blow to the quarterback’s upper body and helmet.
As soon as the goal was scored, tight end Evan Engram is the first to start pushing Al-Shaair, while several others from both teams are involved in the scrum seconds later.
Lawrence was eventually taken away and alert, while Al-Shaair was ejected from the match.
Lawrence was ruled out of the game shortly afterwards due to a head injury, with Mac Jones replacing him at quarterback.
Jacksonville’s Jarrian Jones was also ejected from the game, while Engram was assessed a 15-yard penalty for being the first to engage Al-Shaair in combat.
Texans and Jaguars players got into an argument after Trevor Lawrence was hit by Aziz Al-Shaair
Lawrence surrendered himself to the play but was hit by Al-Shaair, sparking the huge brawl
Al-Shaair had to be removed from the field by stadium security and Texas staff after fans at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville pelted him with trash.
Before Al-Shaair left the field, he became involved in a shouting match with Jaguars offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, which almost led to a second brawl.
“Trevor Lawrence suffered a significant traumatic brain injury (#TBI) here. He’s showing a clear “screen reaction” which means he’s been knocked unconscious with a #concussion and deeper parts of his brain aren’t working properly. I wish him the best,” Chris Nowinski, founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, said on social media.
Many online have given Engram kudos for standing up for his teammate regardless of the consequences.
In the meantime. Others have started to suggest that the league would come down heavily on Al-Shaair, potentially banning him for the rest of the season to send a message to the rest of the league that he wants those kinds of goals out of the game to fetch.
Evan Engram of Jacksonville was the first to engage Al-Shaair after the match, starting the brawl
Lawrence was alert and was cleared from the field by Jaguar medical staff after sustaining the hit
The brawl is the last in a weekend full of field battles.
Fighting took place during Saturday’s college football clashes between Michigan-Ohio State, Auburn-Alabama, Missouri-Arkansas, Florida-Florida State and a few others.
Earlier Sunday, Washington Commanders offensive lineman Sam Cosmi and Tennessee defenseman Jeffery Simmons got into a scuffle that lasted a few seconds.
This is not Al-Shair’s first controversial action this season. During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September he hit Roschon Johnsonwho wasn’t even in the game at the time of another side showdown.