A brawl sparked late in Sunday’s game featuring the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans when Jacksonville’s quarterback Trevor Lawrence took a hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, which resulted in Lawrence being carted off the field and Al-Shaair being ejected from the game.
Jacksonville Jaguars QB leaves game with a concussion
Lawrence was down on the field for several minutes before being carted off, and the Jaguars ruled him out of the remainder of the game with a concussion.
#HOUvsJAX Injury Update, presented by @BaptistHealthJx: QB Trevor Lawrence has been ruled OUT with a concussion.
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 1, 2024
Kurt Benkert Weighs in on Houston Texans’ linebacker’s hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback.
Many thought what happened with Lawrence was a simple dirty hit. Former NFL safety Ryan Clark said the Jaguars did the right thing, that “100% there’s supposed to be a fight.”
That’s bull by Azeez Al-Shaair!! You just dive over the QB’s head when they slide. You make sure they go down but you don’t go to the players helmet like that. I 100% agree with an ejection.
And 100% there’s supposed to be a fight! Jaguars did the right thing.
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) December 1, 2024
Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert, who’s known for being vocal on social media, took to X to express his thoughts about the play.
Benkert says that all quarterbacks are taught to slide early, and if you don’t, then you have to dive.
“Diving is the only way to protect yourself unless you decide to slide way before a defender is near you.”
He doesn’t discredit Lawrence’s head injury or says that Al-Shaair is innocent, but said that “quarterbacks should be responsible with making it no doubt for defenders in split second decisions.”
My DMs and notifications are blowing up from this slide situation. Here are my final thoughts.
In every quarterback room I was in, we were taught to slide early (like way too early) and if you don’t, then you have to dive.
Diving is the only way to protect yourself unless you… pic.twitter.com/qx9JtfDss4
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) December 1, 2024
At the same time, Benkert agreed with a fan that it was a dirty hit, so when you stop and think about it, is he saying that Lawrence was wrong for the play and decision to make the slide? Or was it a fact of he reacted late, which didn’t give the defender time to think of what to do in order to avoid something like this?
The NFL has been trying to figure out ways to avoid these types of injuries occurring with players, but it seems that this year has just been riddled with all types of head injuries across the entire league.
There’s no place in football for hits like the one by Al-Shaair to Lawrence. It won’t be surprising if the Texans linebacker faces a fine and potential suspension for his actions.
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