Azeez Al-Shaair reveals he was 'in a dark' place after suspension for viscous hit on Trevor Lawrence
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Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has shed light on his mindset in the aftermath of the three-game suspension he was handed by the NFL. Al-Shaair sparked major controversy in the Texans' 23-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars after flying into Trevor Lawrence with his elbow first, despite the rival quarterback sliding to give himself up on the play.
![[The Houston Texans linebacker was handed the ban after a vicious hit on Trevor Lawrence]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/17/92683263-14244489-Al_Shaair_was_ejected_from_Houston_s_win_over_Jacksonville_for_t-a-15_1735838211118.jpg)
As a consequence, the league handed down a three-game suspension without pay that left Al-Shaair questioning if he'd ever play football again. 'The things that you can think when somebody says they're in a dark place, as dark as you can go is where I was truthfully,' he said, speaking to reporters for the first time since the suspension on Wednesday.
![[He had to be held back by his Texans teammates as a melee ensued following the hit]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/17/92683271-14244489-Azeez_Al_Shaair_has_come_under_fire_after_it_emerged_that_he_is_-a-18_1735838337589.jpg)
Al-Shaair added that 'it was hard for me to see myself playing football again' before he met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and league executives Troy Vincent and Jon Runyan. Al-Shaair was ejected from the December 21 game over the incident, which left Jaguars players and coaches seething and sparked a bench-clearing brawl.
![[Lawrence, who was later confirmed to have sustained a concussion, clenched both fists]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/17/93681639-14244489-image-a-19_1735838344298.jpg)
Azeez Al-Shaair has shed light on his mindset in the aftermath of the three-game suspension. The Houston Texans linebacker was handed the ban after a vicious hit on Trevor Lawrence. He had to be held back by his Texans teammates as the melee ensued while Lawrence, who was eventually carted off the field, laid motionless on the turf.
