NFL Fines Jaguars’ Evan Engram for Retaliation Against Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair
The NFL has fined Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram $11,255 for retaliating against Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who delivered a season-ending hit to quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Engram was the first Jaguars player to go after Al-Shaair after the hit, as players from both teams swarmed to the area.
Engram defended his actions, saying, “It was a dirty hit. In that moment, instinct was just, it didn’t feel like a clean hit, so I had to go stand up for my quarterback. I just knew it was wrong. It was a dirty play. You stood up for your guys. It’s just how it goes.”
Al-Shaair, on the other hand, was suspended three games without pay for his involvement in the brawl. The NFL said the linebacker’s actions played into the discipline. Lawrence sustained his second concussion in a year from the hit and was placed on injured reserve.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans criticized the Jaguars for “overreacting” after Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence, suggesting the quarterback was at fault. However, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson defended his team’s reaction and called Ryans’ response “surprising.”
Al-Shaair has apologized for the hit and insisted he didn’t intend to hit Lawrence illegally. However, after his appeal of his suspension was denied, he posted a cryptic message on Instagram, saying, “IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN! SEE YOU SOON.”