Jaguars players and coaches were controlled in their postgame reactions to the hit that knocked quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of their game against the Houston Texans, Michael DiRocco of ESPN reports.

But they were still angry about the hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair two hours after it happened late in the first half of Houston's 23-20 victory at EverBank Stadium.

"It was a dirty hit," said tight end Evan Engram, who shoved Al-Shaair after the play. "Obviously those hits are always in question. Trevor was going down and I saw it out of my peripheral [vision]. I got a pretty clear view of it, and in that moment, just [reacted on] instincts. It just didn't feel like a clean hit, so just go stick up for my quarterback.

"I mean, I saw him sliding and then I saw the hit, and then just, honestly, it just took over. I just knew it was wrong. It was just a dirty play, and you stick up for your guys."

Al-Shaair hit Lawrence in the head after Lawrence slid at the end of a 6-yard scramble late in the first half. Engram retaliated against Al-Shaair, and that sparked the first of two fights between the teams. By the time the melee cleared, officials ejected Al-Shaair for an illegal hit to the quarterback's head and neck area and also assessed Engram a personal foul penalty.

Jaguars right tackle Anton Harrison, tight end Brenton Strange, receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and defensive end Travon Walker were among the players who also came to Lawrence's defense. Cornerback Jarrian Jones also was ejected after he came off the bench and threw a punch at another player, per a pool report with referee Land Clark.

The brawl happened just a few yards away from Lawrence, who was down on his back with his arms in what appeared to be the fencing posture. An official knelt to protect Lawrence as the skirmish moved toward the Jaguars sideline. Lawrence was down on the field for several minutes before eventually being taken off the field on a cart -- he rode in front sitting up -- and the team ruled him out for the rest of the game with a concussion.

"That was a dumb hit on his [Al-Shaair's] part," defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said. "... At the end of the day he's just playing football, but again, the way we've changed the rules of how we play, we go over these things. We talk about these things. We know how to play football. A couple of years ago, that would've been a great hit, but now that wasn't a good play on him.

"I am not going to sit up there and say, does he deserve to get suspended or not? That's not my call at that moment. It wasn't smart."

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