Houston Texans coach defends Azeez Al-Shaair after linebacker was ejected for late hit

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans defended Azeez Al-Shaair after the linebacker was ejected from Sundays game for throwing a late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Ryans said Monday the team stands behind the 6-year player and explained the incident should be considered from both sides of the ball.

Were not intentionally trying to hurt anyone, but I think theres an overreaction when someone gets hurt but we just have to look at it all, from all perspectives.

A lot of the quarterbacks in this day and age, they try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late, and they try to get an extra yard.

And now youre a defender, a lot of onus is on the defender, right? Ryans added, Unfortunately, Trevor got hurt.

We hope Trevor is ok.

But - its also if were sliding, we have to get down.

If were getting out of bounds, we get out of bounds.

That rule is there to protect the quarterbacks, and we want our quarterbacks to be safe in the league, so we just have to be safe and were sliding, make sure were keeping our heads down.

Ryans said Al-Shaair plays the game the right way and would never intend to hurt another player.

For any picture thats painted that Azeez is a dirty player or doing something intentional, thats the exact opposite of what Azeez is.

People who know Azeez they know him, they know how he plays the game.

Yes, he plays it fast, he plays it physical and sometimes that physical nature gets misunderstood in todays game.

Earlier, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson was asked what he thought an appropriate punishment might be for Al-Shaair.

Peterson referenced the skirmishes and fights at several NCAA football games on Saturday.

I think the league is going to handle these situations as they come up.

Just look at what even happened in college football, some of these rivalry games and things of that nature over the weekend.

Its unfortunate because it escalates to a level that doesnt need to be on the field.

We hold ourselves to a high regard.

Were in the National Football League.

Defend the shield.

All that stuff.

We got to figure out a way as a league to somehow minimize or at least get these plays out of the game, if possible, Pederson said.

Its standard for the NFL to review a hit like Al-Shaairs for potential discipline, with previous rules violations as part of the consideration, a league source told CNN on Monday.

The Texans are now on a bye week and will play again on Dec.

15 against the Miami Dolphins..

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