An illegal hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence led the player to be carted off the field, sparked an ejection as well as a confrontation between Jacksonville and Houston Texans players on Sunday.
Lawrence had run for a first down with four minutes to play before halftime during the Week 13 game and had begun a feet-first slide to end his play. Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair continued to run toward Lawrence and hit the quarterback with his forearm, knocking Lawrence’s head backward, and it later bounced off the turf. NFL rules require that any defender must pull up and not hit a player that is sliding.
The hit occurred in front of the Jacksonville sideline and Jaguars teammates immediately ran to confront Al-Shaair. Houston teammates then ran in to defend their teammate, as well, leading to a skirmish that spilled out of bounds while Lawrence remained on the turf, still on his back, as medical personnel tended to him.
Lawrence later stood up and was taken off the field in a cart, and the team ruled him out for the rest of the game with a head injury.
Al-Shaair was ejected for the hit and was led off the field by team personnel to boos throughout the Florida stadium.
