In the last 24 hours in the world of the NFL, Azeez Al-Shaair has been the talk of the town. The Texans LB’s hit on Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence in Sunday’s game made all hell break loose! Following the incident, Lawrence suffered a concussion. Al-Shaair was out and handed a three-game suspension. While some sided with the player and said it was an unfair decision, others felt the hit was on purpose.

Texans GM Nick Caserio was on his player’s side. Disappointed with the suspension, he didn’t mince his words and pointed out “the picture that has been painted about Azeez.” And former NFLer Domonique Foxworth agreed. Talking about Caerio’s reaction and the whole Azeez issue on his The Domonique Foxworth Show, he said, “I find myself siding with Nick Caserio a little bit. Because I did feel the reaction was a little over the top.”

Like Caserio, Foxworth also went on to talk about how the “character judgments” made in the NFL letter were unnecessary. “There’s no need for all the opinion stuff. It feels like there’s a lot of emotion in the letter, and the emotion is the problem,” he further said. As part of his letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan wrote, “Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL.”

As the controversy deepened, Al-Shaair, though apologetic, decided to appeal the ban. In a brief statement, he expressed regret over the hit and maintained that it was unintentional. Caserio, too, defended his player, stating, “There’s not a more selfless individual more about the team who’s earned the respect, that represents everything that we want the program to be about.” This vote of confidence highlights the Houston Texans‘ support for Azeez Al-Shaair despite the setback.

This wasn’t the first time Al-Shaair was penalized for his actions this season. But this could be a costly one. Not just monetarily but keeping the team’s future in mind.

Texans face steep challenges

Azeez Al-Shaair’s rise from being undrafted to a defensive standout has been nothing less of inspiring. Joining the Texans with determination, he quickly became an important clog of their defensive scheme, earning widespread respect.

Losing Azeez Al-Shaair in the coming weeks could be a big blow for the Texans. Especially since he’s been a standout on defense with 68 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles this season. His suspension can only mean one thing. More pressure on the other linebackers, particularly with tough opponents. It will definitely not be easy to maintain their top position in the AFC South. If his appeal is rejected, the LB will probably return when they take on the Titans in week 17. He will sit out the Texans’ high-profile clashes against the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Ravens in the following weeks.

The next few weeks will be a test of depth. As they cope with Azeez Al-Shaair’s absence, their performance will determine their direction for the rest of the season.