The Texans won a division game over the Jaguars on Sunday but Houston might’ve lost its starting middle linebacker for one game and possibly more.
With 4:20 left in the second quarter and Houston leading 6-0, Azeez Al-Shaair laid a vicious hit on a sliding Trevor Lawrence, causing Evan Engram to hit Al-Shaair and both benches to erupt. Officials promptly ejected Al-Shaair and Lawrence left with a concussion and did not return. Houston’s second-leading tackler, Al-Shaair could be suspended as early as tomorrow. The first-place Texans (8-5) are on a bye before Miami, Kansas City and Baltimore.
“Now the NFL needs to make a decision on whether it takes player safety and blatantly dirty hits seriously,” wrote insider Frank Schwab Sunday night in his Yahoo Sports column. “A suspension for the rest of the season would send the appropriate message.”
The NFL normally waits until later in the week to issue fines. However, suspensions for hits such as Al-Shaair’s typically are announced as early as the day following the game. Any suspension levied by vice president of football operations Jon Runyan would be subject to appeal and heard by Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawae or Jordy Nelson, the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by both the NFL and NFL Players Association.
After Lawrence left on a cart, Mac Jones led the Jaguars (2-10) to consecutive field goals to tie the game before the Texans scored 17 unanswered points. C.J. Stroud was 22 of 34 for 242 yards with no interceptions and a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Schultz early in the fourth quarter. Joe Mixon, meanwhile, eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the seventh time this season with 101 yards on 20 carries, including a 7-yard touchdown.
The Texans have gone into Jacksonville and won seven straight meetings.
For more information on the Texans and Jaguars, visit the Houston and Jacksonville team pages at ProFootballPost.com.
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