Trevor Lawrence hit: NFL All-Pro defender weighs in on both sides

On Sunday, Azeez Al-Shaair hit Trevor Lawrence in the head, causing him to be knocked out of the game.

Despite being suspended three games for a hit that was widely considered dirty, Al-Shaair stated that he had no malicious intent. Houston Texans general manager Nick Casio criticized the treatment of the defender, calling it "bulls***."

In a recent interview with Planet Chronicle Digital, Minnesota Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore acknowledged that the current situation is challenging.

"Seeing someone get hit like that is never desirable. It can be challenging to anticipate quarterbacks' movements while they run, attempt first downs, and slide at the last minute," he stated.

Defenders rarely receive the benefit of the doubt on quick, high-speed plays.

""Some quarterbacks slide early, and it's tricky to know when to pull back and go for the tackle," he said."

DeMeco Ryans, the head coach of the Texans, expressed similar sentiments to Gilmore's comments about the Jaguars players' overreaction to the incident.

In today's football, quarterbacks often attempt to gain an extra yard by sliding late, putting a lot of pressure on defenders. Defenders must be vigilant and aware of the quarterback's intentions, whether they are on the sidelines or on the field. It can be challenging to determine whether a quarterback is continuing to run or standing up, and a late slide can result in a hit.

Trevor's injury is unfortunate, but we must prioritize his safety. If we're sliding, we must keep our heads down, and if we're getting out of bounds, we must follow the rules to protect our quarterbacks. Azeez's actions led to a melee, and we must ensure that our players are aware of the consequences of their actions.

"Our team did not cause the incident. It was the opposing team that overreacted, pushed our player, and dragged him to the sideline, which is unacceptable. We need to improve our behavior on the sidelines as well."

Al-Shaair's actions after the hit and other dirty plays led to his penalty, according to NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan.

On Sunday night, Lawrence shared on X that he felt "improved and back at home."

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