Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was carted off the field on Sunday following a helmet-to-helmet collision with Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
The incident, which occurred during the second quarter of the game in Jacksonville, left Lawrence sprawled on the field and triggered a heated brawl between the two teams.
The clash unfolded as Lawrence scrambled on second-and-7 near midfield, sliding to avoid contact. Al-Shaair, however, dove headfirst, striking Lawrence with the crown of his helmet. Officials immediately flagged the hit, which led to tensions flaring on both sides.
Jaguars tight end Evan Engram retaliated, escalating the situation into a full-blown melee that spilled onto Jacksonville’s sideline. Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones and Al-Shaair were subsequently ejected, with Engram penalized for unnecessary roughness.
Lawrence, who remained motionless on the field for several moments, was eventually able to sit upright and was carted off. The Jaguars quickly ruled him out of the game with a head injury, handing quarterback duties to backup Mac Jones.
Al-Shaair initially protested the penalty before being swarmed by Jaguars players, further fueling the chaos. Even after the main altercation subsided, another scuffle broke out when Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff confronted Al-Shaair. The linebacker was eventually escorted off the field by a police officer, Texans staff, and teammate Will Anderson Jr., all while exchanging words with fans.
According to CBS, the hostile crowd threw objects at Al-Shaair as he headed toward the tunnel. Despite the disruption, the game resumed with Houston leading 6-0, and Mac Jones stepping in to lead Jacksonville’s offense.
The hit and its aftermath are likely to prompt further scrutiny from the league, both for the violent nature of the collision and the ensuing brawl. Lawrence’s condition remains a primary concern as the Jaguars await updates on their star quarterback.
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