HOUSTON – Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shair took to social media Monday morning to apologize to the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence after his violent hit on the quarterback’s facemask resulted in the quarterback’s concussion.

After missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence was back in the starting lineup and scrambled to left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday. He initiated a slide before Al-Shair raised his forearm and unleashed it on the defenseless quarterback.

In the post, Al-Shair, who was sent off for the hit, initially said that he only saw Lawrence slip “too late” and that it happened “in the blink of an eye” before apologizing for the hit.

“To Trevor, I sincerely apologize for what ultimately happened,” Al-Shaair wrote. “We spoke before the game and I told you how great it was to see you back on the field and wished you all the best. I never want a player to get hurt because of a hit I gave him, especially if it was suspended ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary’.”

All praise is due to Allah🤲🏾 pic.twitter.com/pEbCRAg8fF

– Azeez Al-shair (@A_train2_) December 2, 2024

Lawrence clenched both fists after the punch – movements consistent with the so-called “fencing response” that can often occur after a traumatic brain injury. He lay on the ground for several minutes as teammates defended him and harassed Al-Shaair.

Al-Shair was sent off for “an illegal, unnecessary blow to the neck and head area of ​​the quarterback,” referee Land Clark said in a pool report Sunday. Jaguars rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones was also ejected for throwing a punch during the scuffle.

As Al-Shair left the pitch, fans started shouting at him. Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff interfered, sparking another altercation with Al-Shaair. Texans teammate Will Anderson Jr. grabbed Al-Shair and escorted him off the field when a fan threw a water bottle, hitting Anderson in the helmet. The fan was later ejected.

Lawrence posted on social media Sunday evening that he was home and “feeling better.”

“Thank you to everyone who cared for me/prayed for me,” he posted on X. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot to me, thank you everyone.”

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Monday that the Jaguars would wait for Lawrence to clear concussion protocol before deciding whether to suspend him for the rest of the season. He also said they would consider Lawrence’s sprained left AC joint, but added that the injury was not aggravated by the hit.

Lawrence said last week that he wanted to play against the Texans but wouldn’t rule out shoulder surgery before the end of the season if that was the best course of action.

“It’s a difficult situation,” Pederson said. “You still want to send a positive message to your team that we are still fighting to the end. Of course there are still five games on the schedule, but we also have to be smart to protect his long-term health.”

Al-Shair said in his statement that he understood why the Jacksonville players defended Lawrence in the brawl that followed the hit.

“I can certainly understand why you would support him and defend him in such a situation,” Al-Shair wrote.

He then complained about reporters and others for their comments about him after the attack.

“To the rest of the people I called every single name in the book, from reporters willing to find a story to find their (villain), to racist and Islamophobic fans and people, you know neither heart nor heart.” “I am my character, which I do not have to prove to any of you,” he wrote. “God knows my intentions and anyone who has ever been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart.”

Pederson said Sunday that it was a game that “really has no place in our league,” and Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said, “That’s not what we coach.”

“It was a dirty hit,” Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, who gave Al-Shair a shove after the play, said Sunday. “Of course, these goals are always questionable. Trevor went down and I saw it out of my peripheral vision. I had a pretty clear view of it and at that moment I was just reacting to my instincts. It just happened.’ It doesn’t feel like a clean hit, so just go for my quarterback.

“I mean, I saw him slip and then I saw the hit and then, honestly, he just took control. I just knew it was wrong. It was just a dirty game and you stand up for your boys.”

Last week, Al-Shair was charged and later fined $11,255 for hitting Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard late out of bounds.

He was also fined $11,817 earlier this year after punching Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. This occurred during a scuffle that began after his hard shot at quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline was not blocked.

Al-Shair, a sixth-year pro, will be fined for the attack on Lawrence and could also be suspended.

At the beginning of his statement, Al-Shair said that he has always played the game hard and that he would never intentionally try to harm anyone.

“My goal is to hit you as hard as I can. Then I pray you are still able to get up and play the next piece,” he wrote. “And when the game is over, go home to your family unharmed because it’s nothing personal, it’s just a competition! We’re both trying to do the same thing, which is to provide for our families!”

ESPN’s Michael DiRocco and The Associated Press contributed to this report.