Doug Pederson of the Jaguars defends the team in a melee after an illegal hit by Azeez Al-Shaair on Trevor Lawrence.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson defended his team Wednesday after a controversial clash with the Houston Texans.
After Jaguars linebacker Trevor Lawrence hit an illegal call on a slide by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, chaos broke out on the field as Jaguars players responded to Al-Shaair’s call, sparking a loud brawl in the middle. of these two groups.
Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was the first player to be seen pushing and shoving Al-Shaair after the hit, before several other Jacksonville players followed.
Pederson denied the idea that his players were “following” anyone.
“We don’t intend to hurt anybody. We don’t intend to destroy jobs. We intend to win the football game and play hard by following the rules. That’s our job. It’s the way we train, the way we play,” said Pederson at the team’s press conference.
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December 1, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) in the second quarter at EverBank Stadium. (Photos by Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn)
“If they ask or suggest that we follow someone, we don’t do that. Flat out, we don’t do that. That’s not the way I train. That’s not the way I will train these teams, these players. We will go out and do our jobs, play fast, play physically according to the rules.
Pederson also said it was “a little surprising” that Houston coach DeMeco Ryans blamed the Jacksonville team for inciting the conflict.
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Players fight after Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) hits Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Trevor Lawrence with a late hit during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville , Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Al-Shaair was suspended by the NFL for three games for repeated violations of player safety rules following Lawrence’s hit to the head, which resulted in the quarterback’s second concussion in less than a year.
Al-Shaair also spoke out against “racist and Islamophobic fans,” after the public response to the incident.
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Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Trevor Lawrence (16) talks with Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
“I have always played this game with great determination. I have never intended to hurt anyone and anyone who knows me knows that. My intention is to hit you so hard that I pray that you can still get up and play the next game,” he said in a statement. man! It’s just competition. We are both trying to do the same thing that supports our families!
“I didn’t see him skate until press time. And this all happened in an instant. To Trevor, I’m so sorry to you for what happened. Before the game we talked and I told you how it happened. It was good to see you back on the field and I wish you the best but I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit what I have included in them is mostly considered ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’ To all his colleagues, I really understand that you have his back and protect him in a situation like this.
Meanwhile, Lawrence was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, ending his season.
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