Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will undergo surgery to repair an AC joint injury in his left shoulder, according to NFL.com. The injury occurred during Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans and was a result of an illegal hit by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
Lawrence initially injured his shoulder in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles and missed two games before returning on Sunday. The hit incited a melee between the two teams after Al-Shaair was flagged for an unnecessary hit, resulting in a three-game suspension without pay.
This is Lawrence’s second major injury to his shoulder, with previous surgery performed to repair a torn labrum in 2021. He signed a $275 million contract extension with the Jaguars in the offseason and had been playing his fourth NFL season.
NFL All-Pro defender Azeez Al-Shaair has apologized for the hit and maintains it was not intentional, but still faces backlash from fans and players alike. The linebacker has also spoken out against “racist and Islamophobic” fans who responded to the incident.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson defended his team’s response, saying they were simply playing hard within the rules. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans suggested Lawrence should share some responsibility for the hit, which occurred after he attempted to slide late on the field.
Lawrence’s surgery is expected to be his second major operation of his life, following previous surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2021.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trevor-lawrence-needs-significant-surgery-repair-damage-illegal-hit-from-texans-azeez-al-shaair