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Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair apologizes for hit; suspension likely

Mon Dec 2 1:01pm ET
Field Level Media

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair apologized Monday for his brutal hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence amid reports that a suspension is likely coming from the NFL.

Al-Shaair was ejected from Sunday's win over the Jaguars after he delivered a blow to the head and neck of Lawrence, who had given himself up with a feet-first slide.

"I genuinely didn't see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that's deemed 'late' or 'unnecessary,'" Al-Shaair posted to X on Monday.

ESPN reported that the NFL will likely suspend Al-Shaair, with the only question being for how long.

With 4:15 left in the first half, Lawrence was carrying the ball and went into a feet-first slide at Houston's 45-yard line when Al-Shaair launched into him, delivering a forearm shot near the quarterback's head and shoulder.

"It's a play that has no business in our league," Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told 1010 XL Radio after the game.

Multiple skirmishes erupted as Lawrence lay prone on the field. Al-Shaair was ejected, along with Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones, while multiple penalties offsetting.

Lawrence immediately displayed the hand motion known as a fencing posture that is associated with suffering a concussion. However, he was able to stand after being attended to briefly and he sat up while being taken to the locker room on a cart.

Lawrence -- who was returning from a Week 9 injury to his non-throwing shoulder -- was not taken to a hospital.

Al-Shaair, 27, is a repeat offender this season alone, having just been fined $11,255 for a late hit on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was also fined $11,817 for punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson in a Week 2 game. That came after a sideline skirmish that began after Al-Shaair hit Bears quarterback Caleb William late out of bounds but wasn't flagged.

An undrafted free agent out of FAU, Al-Shaair has 68 tackles and two sacks in 10 starts this season, his first in Houston.

He has 430 tackles, six sacks, two interceptions and four fumble recoveries in 83 career games (58 starts) for the San Francisco 49ers (2019-22), Titans (2023) and Texans.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 13

Player Notes
Baker Mayfield Dec 2 12:00pm CT
Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said he thinks quarterback Baker Mayfield (leg) will be fine for Week 14 against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders after he was cleated in the back of his right leg in the second half of the Week 13 overtime victory over the division-rival Carolina Panthers. However, Mayfield's practice status for the week is up in the air. Mayfield had a mild limp after Sunday's game but said he'd be OK moving forward. Our guess is he could miss some practice time this week but will ultimately play on Sunday in a plus matchup against Vegas. The 29-year-old ended up missing only two snaps due to the leg injury and finished 21-for-33 passing for 235 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions against Carolina. We'll keep a close eye on Mayfield's status this week, but he should have low-end QB1 upside if he faces the Raiders in Week 14.

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Taysom Hill Dec 2 11:50am CT
Taysom Hill

Tests on Monday confirmed that New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (knee) suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, according to a source. Hill suffered the devastating knee injury in the second half against LA and had to be carted off the field and into the locker room. Before going down, the 34-year-old veteran carried the ball five times for 10 yards and caught five of his seven targets for 37 yards through the air. The loss of Hill, the Saints' most multi-faceted weapon on offense by far, is a major blow for the offense down the stretch. Obviously, he can be dumped in single-year fantasy leagues. With Hill out the rest of the way, running backs Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams will most likely see more targets. Tight end Juwan Johnson, who had a season-high-tying five catches on Sunday, should also see more looks through the air.

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Dawson Knox Dec 2 11:50am CT
Dawson Knox

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox led the team with 56 receiving yards on only two catches (two targets) in the 35-10 blowout win over the San Francisco 49ers at Orchard Park on a snowy Sunday night. Players on both sides of the ball looked like they were on ice skates during a snowstorm that basically lasted the entire game. While Knox was only targeted twice, he made the most of his work and was the only Buffalo player to go over 30 receiving yards in a run-heavy game script. The 28-year-old's season-high 56 yards also came with second-year TE Dalton Kincaid (knee) missing his second straight game due to injury. In the last two weeks with Kincaid sidelined, Kincaid's production has gone up, catching six of eight targets for 96 receiving yards. Knox's Week 14 fantasy value will all depend on whether Kincaid is able to return.

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John Metchie III Dec 2 11:30am CT
John Metchie III

Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III was barely involved in the 23-20 win over the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, catching both of his targets for 16 receiving yards, which ranked fifth on the team. Although Metchie operated as the No. 3 receiver behind Nico Collins and Tank Dell, the production was a bit disappointing, considering that Xavier Hutchinson (shoulder) was inactive for this contest. In addition to Collins and Dell, tight end Dalton Schultz was more involved than Metchie as well. The 24-year-old was mainly worth looking at as a flex option in deeper fantasy leagues when Collins was on Injured Reserve earlier this season. Now that Collins is back, it's going to be tough for Metchie to stand out in the box score. Since a 74-yard, one-TD performance on Nov. 10 against the Lions, Metchie only has six catches on eight targets for 55 scoreless yards in three games.

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Trevor Lawrence Dec 2 11:20am CT
Trevor Lawrence

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is expected to be suspended by the league for the hit he delivered in the Week 13 win over the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday that left quarterback Trevor Lawrence (head) concussed. It was a pretty clear cheap shot with Lawrence already giving himself up in the middle of the field on a slide. Lawrence's arms stiffened up after the hit, and it was pretty obvious that he suffered a pretty serious concussion on the play. The former first overall pick stayed down on the ground as trainers came to examine him before eventually being carted off the field. Before being ejected from Sunday's game, Al-Shaair had five tackles on 19 defensive snaps. It remains to be seen how long the 27-year-old will be suspended, but Houston's defense will most likely be without him when they face the Miami Dolphins in Week 15 after their Week 14 bye.

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Mike Gesicki Dec 2 11:20am CT
Mike Gesicki

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki didn't find the end zone in the 44-38 loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13, but he was efficient with the opportunities he was given, catching all five of his targets on the day for 53 receiving yards, which was third on the team behind receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Fellow TE Tanner Hudson was also efficient, catching all four of his targets for 28 yards on Sunday. The 29-year-old Gesicki entered the TE1 ranks in fantasy earlier this year, but that was mainly because Higgins had missed time due to injuries. Sunday was a reminder that Gesicki can still get involved with Higgins on the field, but his upside is surely limited when Cincy has their top two wideouts available. Since his two-TD performance on Nov. 3 against the Raiders, Gesicki has nine receptions for 83 yards and no scores the last three contests.

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Aaron Rodgers Dec 2 11:10am CT
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said he still thinks veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers gives the team the best chance to win, and the organization will stick with him as the starter for a Week 14 contest in Miami against the division-rival Dolphins this Sunday. "We have great belief in Aaron and we think he gives us the best opportunity to win," Ulbrich said. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer came up short yet again in a 26-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13, dropping the Jets to 3-9 on the year. Through 12 games in his second year in New York, Rodgers ranks as the QB19 with 2,627 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 419 pass attempts. He's sporting a career-low 6.3 yards per attempt, and things haven't gotten much better for the Jets' offense since acquiring receiver Davante Adams. Rodgers will be a QB2 once again against Miami in Week 14.

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Bucky Irving Dec 2 11:10am CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (hip) suffered a hip injury during a kickoff return in the overtime win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers on Sunday and was laboring as he walked to the locker room after the game. However, Irving said he feels much better on Monday and downplayed the injury, so he should be able to play in Week 14 in a great matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 22-year-old only saw one touch on the team's last three drives of the game, but he had already done plenty of damage for his fantasy managers on the day, finishing with 25 carries for a career-best 152 yards and a touchdown. He also added three catches for 33 yards. Rachaad White and Sean Tucker continue to get their touches in Tampa's backfield, but Irving has averaged at least 5.5 yards per carry in the last three games and has been the Bucs' best RB all year.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Dec 2 11:10am CT
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. returned to stellar form in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. He finished with 76 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. The rookie was third on the team in receptions behind Evan Engram and Parker Washington who combined for 13 catches, but was second on the team in targets and yards. BTJ was outshined by Parker Washington, but his big-play ability allowed him to still have an efficient outing. What was extra reassuring for fantasy managers is most of his stats came after Trevor Lawrence left with a concussion and Mac Jones took over, who BTJ struggled to produce with in Weeks 10 and 11. The Jaguars face the Tennessee Titans next week, where BTJ will look to continue his awesome rookie campaign.

From RotoBaller

Parker Washington Dec 2 10:50am CT
Parker Washington

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington surpassed 100 yards receiving in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. With Gabe Davis and Christian Kirk out due to injury, Washington was the clear next man up heading into this game. He took advantage of the opportunity, producing 103 yards on six receptions and leading the team in targets with 12. While it isn't surprising Washington had his best game of the season, it is surprising he played this well given he had increased opportunities earlier in the season that he didn't take advantage of. It's especially impressive given Trevor Lawrence left early with a concussion and Mac Jones took over. The Jaguars face the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, where Washington will look to build on this momentum, no matter who is under center.

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Alec Pierce Dec 2 10:40am CT
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (foot), who had missed two practices earlier in the week, was cleared to suit up and wound up playing a pivotal role in the Colts' 25-24 win over the Patriots on Sunday. While two catches for 16 yards isn't noteworthy, one of those catches was a touchdown reception that came with 12 seconds left in the game that put the Colts in position to win the game on a successful two-point conversion by quarterback Anthony Richardson on the following play. Pierce did receive six targets in the game, which was second-most behind Michael Pittman Jr.'s seven, and was a slight uptick in his usual usage with Josh Downs (shoulder) missing the contest due to injury. When the Colts come out of their bye, expect Pierce's involvement to take a slight step back if Downs returns, although he's always a threat to break off a couple of big chunk plays per game using his speed.

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Evan Engram Dec 2 10:30am CT
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram finished with seven catches which led the team in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. While from a PPR standpoint Engram's performance was solid, he only had 41 yards and no touchdowns, so better efficiency and red zone usage will be necessary for sustained fantasy success going forward. Trevor Lawrence struggled early then went down with a concussion late in the first half, leading to Mac Jones taking over for the rest of the game. Jones played well, throwing two touchdowns but neither to Engram unfortunately for fantasy managers. Engram has never been much of a downfield threat, and that will certainly continue with Jones under center and rookie teammate Brian Thomas Jr. thriving on deep balls. The Jaguars face the Titans in Week 14, where Engram will look to continue his TE1 level of play.

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Tyler Allgeier Dec 2 10:20am CT
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier carried the ball eight times for 16 yards and even caught a pass for six yards in Sunday's 17-13 loss to the Chargers. The eight carries were encouraging given that he didn't receive even a single attempt last week, but it was still a drop in the bucket compared to Bijan Robinson's 26 carries and six receptions, so Robinson managers need not worry about Allgeier cutting into his workload. With Allgeier averaging 5.7 yards per rush earlier in the season, there may have been some reason to give the 24-year-old more work, but that has slowly trended downward, now averaging 4.8 YPR. With Robinson looking like one of the most talented workhorse backs in the league, Allgeier remains an afterthought for fantasy. Unless it sounds like the Falcons will try to hide Kirk Cousins' arm in Week 14 against a tough Denver pass defense, there likely won't be a reason to use the third-year pro in most lineups.

From RotoBaller

Tank Bigsby Dec 2 10:10am CT
Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby only touched the ball eight times, putting up 28 rushing yards and seven receiving yards against the Houston Texans in Week 13. Bigsby entered the week questionable with an ankle injury, so it wasn't too surprising his workload was limited. That also seemed to limit his explosiveness, as he only averaged four yards per carry. That was still better than running mate Travis Etienne Jr.'s 3.5 yards per carry, so there is optimism that Bigsby can return to the form he showed he was capable of in the middle of the season. The Jaguars face the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, where Bigsby will look to get healthier and more involved in the offense, whether Mac Jones or Trevor Lawrence is under center.

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Travis Etienne Dec 2 10:00am CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. continued to build on his underwhelming season against the Houston Texans in Week 13. He finished with 46 yards rushing on 13 carries and 12 yards receiving on three receptions. Another single-digit fantasy performance for the 25-year-old back means once again his fantasy managers are left regretting picking him in the second round of fantasy drafts. With Tank Bigsby questionable with an ankle injury heading into the week, Etienne Jr. had a chance to seize the starting role, but failed to stand out. While Bigsby only touched the ball half as much as Etienne Jr. did, he had a higher yards per carry (4.0 to 3.5) and longer longest run (19 to 9). The Jaguars face the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, where Etienne Jr. will most likely get a lower percentage of the backfield touches.

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Adonai Mitchell Dec 2 9:50am CT
Adonai Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell was expected to see an uptick in usage with the absence of teammate Josh Downs (shoulder), however, the rookie wideout saw one fewer target (two) than he saw the week before and was held without a catch for the first time since Week 4 in Sunday's 25-24 win over the Patriots. Granted, Anthony Richardson completed only 12 passes on the day, but it was a disappointing showing in the absence of Downs and with Alec Pierce (foot) a little banged up coming into the game. The Colts have a bye in Week 14 and will face a tough Denver pass defense in Week 15. Regardless of whether or not Downs will be ready by then, Mitchell will be hard to trust for fantasy in that matchup and with Richardson's 47.4% completion rate.

From RotoBaller

Mac Jones Dec 2 9:40am CT
Mac Jones

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones put up 20 fantasy points in what was easily his best game of the season in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. The most impressive part of this performance was starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence left with a concussion with just over four minutes left in the first half, so Jones played almost exclusively in the second half. The former first round pick finished with 235 passing yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. It is unlikely anyone seriously started Jones after Lawrence was announced as the starter, so while the performance is reassuring, it is unfortunate for fantasy managers it didn't come in a week Jones actually started. The Jaguars face the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, where Jones will look to show he's more than a one-week-wonder.

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Jake Elliott Dec 2 9:30am CT
Jake Elliott

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliot delivered a solid performance in the team's 24-19 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. He made his only field goal attempt from 35 yards and made all three extra-point attempts. Elliot sits at the K20 this season since he has yet to make a 50-yarder and has only gone 18-for-23 overall. Most of his kicking work has come after touchdowns, but he's reliably registered around seven fantasy points per game. He'll look to get some more attempts against the Carolina Panthers in Week 14.

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Kyle Pitts Dec 2 9:20am CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts drew two targets but was held without a catch for the second time this season in Sunday's 17-13 loss to the Chargers. Pitts' involvement in the passing game, or lack thereof, is very concerning at this point, especially for a player who is still so highly rostered. Since catching four passes for 91 yards and two TDs on National Tight Ends Day in Week 8, the 24-year-old has six receptions for 75 yards and no scores in the following four games. That just isn't tolerable in fantasy, so hopefully managers drafted a backup plan or have found other options on the waiver wire. Next up is Minnesota in Week 14, and while they can be beaten through the air, outside of Trey McBride in Week 13, the damage has come more so from wide receivers. Pitts is looking like a boom-but-mostly-bust TE2 next Sunday.

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Trevor Lawrence Dec 2 9:20am CT
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (concussion) is now in the NFL's concussion protocol after taking a cheap shot to the head as he slid at the end of a run. The former number-one overall pick took to Twitter/X and said that he is home and alright, so that comes as good news for the Jaguars. Ian Rapoport says that they still don't know when Lawrence will return as of right now, so fantasy managers will want to stay tuned for updates as the week progresses. Mac Jones will likely be under center for any games Lawrence has to miss.

From RotoBaller