The restructuring of Al-Shaair freed up $6.26 million in cap space for the upcoming season. Al-Shaair is perhaps most known for his illegal hit on Trevor Lawrence that saw the league levy a three-game suspension against him. Al-Shaair joined the Texans on a three-year, $34 million deal and is under contract through 2026. Last season he totaled 70 tackles and two sacks in 11 games while earning a PFF defensive grade of 68.9.

Al-Shaair was suspended for three games after delivering a significant blow to Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence’s head as Lawrence slid. His hit led to a brawl during the Texans and Jaguars’ Week 13 matchup and Al-Shaair was subsequently ejected. Lawrence is expected to miss the season with the concussion he suffered on the hit and due to surgery on a shoulder injury he sustained prior to returning Week 13 . Ramon Foster was appointed to oversee Al-Shaair’s appeal of his suspension; Foster upheld the three-game absence. The Texans defense will suffer from missing Al-Shaair as he was one of the team’s starting linebackers. He is eligible to return Week 17 against the Ravens.

Al-Shaair, who has a lengthy history of dirty hits, delivered a vicious head shot to Lawrence as he slid down during the Texans’ Week 13 win over Jacksonville. The illegal hit ignited an all-out brawl, during with Al-Shaair yanked down a Jaguars player by the facemask. He continued his aggression after refs threw him out of the game. It’s a significant loss for the Houston defense. Al-Shaair, who has two sacks and seven QB hurries on the season, is graded by Pro Football Focus as the league’s 18th best linebacker. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 17 against the Ravens. Al-Shaair will reportedly appeal the suspension.

Schefter added that “the only question is for how long” Al-Shaair could be suspended. The Texans linebacker delivered a brutal shot to the head of a sliding Lawrence on Sunday that immediately placed the quarterback in the league’s concussion protocol. It wasn’t the first time a hit by Al-Shaair was drawn into question, as so many pointed out via social media. Al-Shaair to Lawrence on Monday, we’ll see if that bears any weight on whatever punishment the league decides to hand down in the coming days.