NFL denies Azeez Al-Shaair's appeal of suspension

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will serve a three-game suspension after his appeal of the punishment was denied by the NFL on Wednesday.

Al-Shaair was sanctioned for his hit on a sliding Trevor Lawerence on Sunday, a blow to the head that left the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback with a concussion. The game officials ejected Al-Shaair in response to the play.

In a brief statement on X, an NFL spokesman wrote, "Hearing officer Ramon Foster, jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, has upheld the three-game suspension of Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair."

The punishment will keep Al-Shaair from playing for the Texans (8-5) against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, at the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 21 and vs. the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 25.

After the appeal was denied, Al-Shaair leaned into the public reaction he has faced this week with a post on X. Above pictures, including one of the Batman villain The Joker, he wrote, "IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN! SEE YOU SOON ..."

The post also included an emoji of an extended middle finger.

Al-Shaair, 27, is in his first season with the Texans, having previously played for the San Francisco 49ers (2019-22) and the Tennessee Titans (2023). He has tied his career high with two sacks this year, and he has a career-best two forced fumbles.