Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was pulled Sunday after a direct helmet-to-helmet hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair left him sprawled on the field in Jacksonville.
The hit sparked a fight between the teams and led to the ejection of Al-Shaair and Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was also penalized for unnecessary roughness for his role in the ensuing fight.
Lawrence finally left the field sitting in a cart. he was He was ruled out of the game shortly after. with a head injury. Backup Mac Jones took over at quarterback.
The blow came in the second quarter when Houston had a 6-0 lead. Lawrence scrambled to second-and-seven near midfield and slid near the gain line. As Lawrence slid, Al-Shaair dove headfirst and made direct contact with Lawrence’s helmet with the crown of his own.
A flag was immediately thrown. Al-Shaair’s first response was to protest the penalty before Ingram immediately hit him. A fight ensued that spilled over to the Jaguars’ bench.
Al-Shaair and two of his teammates were surrounded by a Jaguars player on the Jaguars bench. Officers eventually brought the melee under control as Lawrence lay face up on the field. Lawrence was finally able to stand before leaving the field in a cart.
Once the initial fight was resolved, Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff approached Al-Shaair and another fight ensued. After the ejections, Al-Shaair was escorted off the field by a police officer, several Texans personnel and teammate Will Anderson Jr. Al-Shaair gawked at fans as he approached the tunnel.
Fans threw objects at Al-Shaair as he left the field, according to the CBS broadcast. The game then resumed with Jones at quarterback for Jacksonville.