Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Helps cause turnover in TNF win
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Al-Shaair posted seven tackles (four solo) and one pass defense during the Texans' 23-19 win over the Bills on Thursday.
Al-Shaair was given the green light to play Thursday after battling through a knee injury and illness during Week 12 prep. He ended up playing every single defensive snap, and he tipped a Josh Allen pass that was picked off by Calen Bullock late in the second quarter, which led to a Ka'imi Fairbairn 43-yard field goal four plays later. Al-Shaair is up to 71 combined tackles through 11 regular-season games, which surpassed his total during the 2024 season (70 tackles, also over 11 regular-season games).
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Cleared to play TNF
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Al-Shaair (knee/illness) does not have an injury designation ahead of Thursday's game against Buffalo.
Al-Shaair popped up on Monday's injury report due to a knee issue and illness, but he was able to shed an injury tag for Thursday's game after practicing in full Wednesday. The veteran linebacker has recorded 32 tackles (11 solo), three pass defenses and one fumble recovery across the Texans' five games since the Week 6 bye.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Estimated as LP to open week
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The Texans listed Al-Shaair (knee/illness) as a limited participant on Monday's estimated practice report.
Al-Shaair managed a knee issue during Week 11 prep and played every single snap during Sunday's 16-13 win over the Titans, when he logged six tackles (one solo). He also appears to be under the weather in addition to working through his knee injury, so his practice participation over the next two days will shed light on his chances of playing against Buffalo on Thursday. Al-Shaair has accumulated 65 tackles (30 solo), six pass defenses, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery through 10 regular-season games.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Practices in full Thursday
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Al-Shaair (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Al-Shaair upgraded to a full participant in Thursday's practice after being limited in Wednesday's session. If the starting middle linebacker can log another full session Friday, he has a chance to avoid an injury tag heading into Sunday's divisional matchup against the Titans, his former team. Through three "revenge" matchups over the past two seasons Al-Shaair has logged 13 tackles (seven solo) including 1.0 sacks, and will look to expand on that resume if he is able to suit up for Sunday's game.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Paces squad with eight stops Sunday
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Al-Shaair totaled eight tackles (three solo) and a defensed pass in a 36-29 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.
Al-Shaair ended as the Texans' top tackler in the comeback win. The veteran linebacker is up to 59 tackles and a career-high six defensed passes through nine games on the campaign.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Nine stops in loss to Denver
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Al-Shaair recorded nine tackles (four solo) in Sunday's loss to the Broncos.
Al-Shaiir's nine tackles were his second-most of the season, as he's started all eight games and played 98 percent of the Texans' defensive snaps. He's up to 51 tackles (26 solo), five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on the campaign.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Modest production in win over 49ers
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Al-Shaair recorded four tackles (one solo) during Houston's win over San Francisco on Sunday.
Al-Shaair has now failed to rack up five or more tackles in three of seven regular-season appearances to begin the 2025 campaign, and he's still looking to pick up his first sack of the year. The veteran linebacker has, however, already logged five pass breakups, tying his total from last season. Al-Shaair could be busy attempting to stop the run Week 9 at home against the Broncos.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Logs four tackles vs. Baltimore
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Al-Shaair registered four tackles (two solo) and one pass defense during the Texans' 44-10 win over the Ravens on Sunday.
Al-Shaair played a season-low 38 defensive snaps Sunday, but the Texans had just 43 snaps on defense as the offense dominated time of possession in a Week 5 blowout win. The veteran linebacker has just seven tackles over the past two games and is up to 32 tackles (19 solo), three pass defenses and one forced fumble over the first five games of the regular season.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Racks up eight stops in Week 3
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Al-Shaair recorded eight tackles (four solo) in a loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
Al-Shaair led the Texans in stops, with nobody else on the team notching more than five tackles. The veteran linebacker is off to a strong start, posting 25 tackles, a defensed pass and a forced fumble through three contests.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Tallies seven tackles vs. LAR
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Al-Shaair registered seven tackles (three solo) during the Texans' 14-9 loss to the Rams on Sunday.
Al-Shaair was one of four Texans players to play all 60 defensive snaps and finished second on the team in tackles behind Kamari Lassiter (nine). Al-Shaair was limited to 11 regular-season games in 2024 after missing three games due to a knee injury and another three contests for a suspension, and he finished with 70 tackles (45 solo), including 2.0 sacks, four pass defenses and two forced fumbles.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Past knee injury
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Al-Shaair (knee) participated in Wednesday's organized team activities, Drew Dougherty of the Texans' official site reports.
Al-Shaair picked up a knee injury during the Texans' divisional-round loss to the Chiefs, but he now appears to have moved past the issue. The Florida Atlantic product served as Houston's top middle linebacker last season, recording 70 total tackles, including 2.0 sacks, four passes defended and two forced fumbles over 11 regular-season contests. With Al-Shaair back at full health, he's expected to remain one of the Texans' top defensive playmakers in 2025.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Questionable to return Saturday
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Al-Shaair (knee) is questionable to return to Saturday's AFC divisional-round matchup against Kansas City.
Al-Shaair dealt with a knee issue during the week and logged a DNP/LP/LP practice progression. He twice visited the medical tent during the first quarter of Saturday's matchup against the Chiefs and has been deemed questionable to return to the contest. Neville Hewitt has entered at linebacker in Al-Shaair's stead.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Managing knee injury
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Al-Shaair didn't practice Tuesday due to a knee injury.
Despite opening the week with an absence at practice, Al-Shaair is on track to play in Saturday's divisional-round matchup with the Chiefs, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Al-Shaair was forced out for one play in this past Saturday's 32-12 win over the Chargers in the wild-card round due to the knee injury, but he immediately checked back into the contest and finished with six tackles. Though the veteran linebacker is expected to play in the divisional round, he may need to upgrade to full participation in practice by Thursday to avoid taking an injury designation into the weekend.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Gets three-game ban for illegal hit
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The NFL announced Tuesday that Al-Shaair has received a three-game suspension for his hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Jaguars, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The 27-year-old linebacker had previously been fined for punching Bears running back Roschon Johnson in Week 2 and again for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard in Week 12. The hit on a sliding Lawrence -- which resulted in the quarterback sustaining a concussion -- appears to have been the last straw, and the NFL elected to suspend Al-Shaair for the first time in his career. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Al-Shaair will appeal the ban, but assuming the three-game suspension is upheld, he'll be eligible to return in Week 18. Devin White could be the next man up at linebacker alongside Henry To'oTo'o and Neville Hewitt, though Houston could get Christian Harris (calf) back from injured reserve at some point after its Week 14 bye.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Leading tackler versus Titans
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Al-Shaair registered eight tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, in Houston's loss Sunday versus Tennessee.
Al-Shaair was limited in practice throughout the week due to a knee injury but ended up having a solid performance nonetheless. Not only did the 27-year-old lead the team in tackles, but Al-Shaair also managed to record his second sack of the season as one of five different Texans defenders to bring down Will Levis.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Past knee issue
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Al-Shaair (knee) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Titans.
The first-year Texan practiced in a limited fashion both Wednesday and Thursday, but he upgraded to a full workload Friday, suggesting that he's recovered from his knee injury in time for Sunday's divisional matchup. With Al-Shaair back at full health, he's expected start alongside Henry To'oTo'o as part of Houston's top outside linebacker duo.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Limited at practice
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Al-Shaair (knee) was a limited participant at the Texans' practice Wednesday.
Al-Shaair dealt with a knee injury throughout October, which forced him to miss three games during that month, but he's since played in Houston's last two contests. The linebacker will still have two more chances to increase his workload at practice this week before the team faces the Titans on Sunday.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Ready to rock
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Al-Shaair (knee) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Lions.
Al-Shaair practiced in full Friday after logging back-to-back limited sessions to begin the Texans' week of practice, suggesting he's moved past his knee issue in time for Sunday's contest. Expect the Florida Atlantic product to start alongside Henry To'oTo'o as part of Houston's top outside linebacker duo in Week 10.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Limited Thursday
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Al-Shaair (knee) was limited in Thursday's practice.
After missing last Thursday night's game against the Jets, Al-Shaair has logged back-to-back limited sessions to open the practice week. He's missed the Texans' last three contests overall but looks poised for a potential return this Sunday versus Detroit. The veteran linebacker has 40 tackles (28 solo), including 1.0 sacks, six QB hits, four pass breakups and one forced fumble through six games.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Still on sidelines
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Al-Shaair (knee) is not practicing Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Al-Shaair was unable to play in Sunday's loss to the Packers and may be in danger of missing Week 8 against the Colts. The veteran linebacker will likely need to get back on the practice field by Friday, to increase his chances of suiting up for the matchup.
