Houston Texans outside linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's three-game suspension has been upheld following a Wednesday appeal hearing, the league announced.
Al-Shaair, whose suspension was levied Tuesday and stems from an illegal hit Sunday on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, had his appeal heard by hearing officer Ramon Foster, who was jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association.
Al-Shaair will now officially miss Houston's Week 15 game on Dec. 15 against the visiting Miami Dolphins, a Week 16 road game against the Kansas City Chiefs and a Christmas Day contest with the Baltimore Ravens. The Texans, who are currently in first place in the AFC South, are on bye this week. Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for the team's Week 18 finale against the Tennessee Titans.
The Texans defender reacted on social media by posting that, "if you want me to be your villain, I'll be your villain," followed by a middle finger emoji.
The sixth-year pro's punishment comes from him hitting a sliding Lawrence in the first half of the Texans' 23-20 win.
Lawrence scrambled and slid, giving himself up before he was hit by an Al-Shaair forearm blow, which caused the quarterback to immediately go into the fencing position. The play led to a skirmish between the Texans and Jaguars, with Al-Shaair slow to leave the field following a subsequent ejection.
The Jaguars placed Lawrence on injured reserve on Wednesday.
The decision to uphold the appeal comes a day after Al-Shaiir's suspension was announced and accompanied by stern words from NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan.
"Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL," Runyan wrote. "...Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated."
Al-Shaair previoulsy issued an apology for his hit on social media on Monday.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio on Tuesday was vehement in his protests of Runyan's comments and the three-game suspension. He also pointed to Al-Shaiir having never been suspended previously. However, this is not his first instance with questionable play. When playing for the San Francisco 49ers, Al-Shaiir grabbed then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady by the throat. Earlier this season, he punched Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline and, also this season, hit Titans running back Tony Pollard in the back on the sideline well after going out of bounds.
The 27-year-old Al-Shaair is in his sixth NFL season and first for Houston. He's started 10 games for the Texans, contributing 68 tackles, two sacks and four pass breakups.
