The Houston Texans are ready to close out the 2025 regular season against the Indianapolis Colts. However, Azeez Al-Shaair and one of his Texans teammates still had some unresolved issues with the league.
In fallout from the Texans’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17, Al-Shaair and Texans defensive end Denico Autry both received costly fines over actions committed during the game.
They were not the only ones, though.
Texans Duo Fined $35K Total Over Chargers Game
GettyDenico Autry #96 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Seattle Seahawks.
According to the NFL’s Gameday Accountability portal on January 3, Texans defensive lineman Denico Autry was fined $12,172 over “unnecessary roughness” for “Striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing” Chargers QB Justin Herbert in Week 17.
That first-quarter play drew a flag during the game. It gave Herbert and the Chargers a fresh set of downs to work with. That drive ended in a missed field goal attempt.
The call also wiped out a sack for Autry, which he picked back up on the ensuing play.
Al-Shaair was fined $23,186 for “unnecessary roughness” over impermissible “use of the helmet.” Al-Shaair took on LA fullback Scott Matlock during a run play. The play itself went for a 3-yard gain, but the NFL deemed Al-Shaair led with his helmet.
Al-Shaair and Matlock exchanged words before a friendly helmet pat and moved on.
No flags were thrown on the play during the game, but Al-Shaair drew the largest fine of the three that the NFL levied.
The NFL often fines players for incidents that were not flagged during the games in which they occurred, using similar discretion when levying further penalties regarding plays that did draw the attention of officials in real-time.
It was a costly week for the Al-Shaair and Autry, but the Texans came away victorious.
Chargers DT Teair Tart Fined Over Dalton Schultz Incident
GettyTeair Tart #90 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on during a game against the Denver Broncos.
In addition to Al-Shaair and Autry for the Texans, the NFL also fined Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart $11,593 for “unsportsmanlike conduct” over “taunting.”
During the play in question, Tart ran up behind Texans tight end Dalton Schultz, who was on the ground after a pass, and hit him in the helmet while attempting to jar the ball loose. Schultz quickly got to his feet and pushed Tart, who fell down.
Schultz drew a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty during the game.
That penalty helped stall out the Texans’ drive. However, Schultz was vindicated in that the NFL did not fine him over the incident.
The Texans were forced to punt two plays later, but their defense forced the Chargers into a three-and-out. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was intercepted on the following drive, and the Chargers would score a touchdown after that.
Again, though, Al-Shaair, Schultz, and the Texans emerged victorious.
The Texans’ win also prevented the Chargers from having an opportunity to win the AFC West, handing that division to the Denver Broncos.
The Texans now need similar help from the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee is facing the current AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18. A win by the Titans, in addition to the Texans defeating the Colts, would give Al-Shaair and Houston their third straight division title.
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