Houston Texans linebacker Aziz Al-Shair posted a note of apology to the X less than 24 hours after he was ejected for an illegal and violent hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Al-Shair began by explaining his mindset during the game.
“I always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intention of harming anyone and those who know me know that. My goal is to hurt you as much as possible, I pray you are still able to get up and play the next play. And be safe with your family when the game is over because it’s not personal it’s just competition! We’re both trying to do the same thing that provides for our families!”
Al-Shair’s hit on Lawrence didn’t leave the QB unscathed. In the second quarter of Sunday’s Texans-Jags game, with the Texans holding a 6-0 lead, Lawrence scrambled near midfield on second-and-7 and got close to the gain line. As he slipped, Al-Shayr reached out with his arm and made contact with Lawrence’s helmet. He spilled onto the field as the flag flew and Al-Shayir’s first instinct was to protest the flag as members of both teams clashed after the injury. Lawrence was eventually ruled out with a head injury and Al-Shayir was soon sent off.
“You’re going to see it slow down and Aziz Al-Shayer does everything you try to prevent in that situation,” Daryl Johnston. pic.twitter.com/YJhrCVEWjS
— The Comeback NFL (@TheComebackNFL) December 1, 2024
In his post on X, Al-Shayr said he didn’t see Lawrence slip until he was already at speed. He then apologizes to Lawrence.
“I didn’t really see him slip until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. I sincerely apologize to you for what happened to Trevor. We spoke before the game and I told you it was great to see you back on the field and wish you well. I never want to hurt a player because I hurt them especially when it’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary’.”
Al-Shair also said he didn’t hold anything against the Jaguars players who defended their QB after the injury. But he did not extend that pardon to those who made him a ‘villain’.
“To the rest of his teammates, I certainly understand that you have his back and protect him in situations like this. The rest of you have called me every name in the book from reporters ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and Islamophobic fans and people, you don’t know my heart or my character. Which I don’t need to prove to any of you. God knows my purpose and anyone who has never been my teammate or friend knows my heart.”
Texans head coach Demeco Ryans said after the game that Al-Shayir hit is not who they are coaching in Houston, and that these actions do not represent who Al-Shayir is as a person or player.
A suspension is expected to be handed down to Al-Shayr this week, although it is unknown whether it will be one game or a longer suspension that reflects the seriousness of what he has done.
