NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Do-it-all Saints tight end Taysom Hill converted a key fourth down with another physical run on a direct snap — and that was his last play of the afternoon.
Coming off a career-best performance against Cleveland in New Orleans' previous game, Hill was carted off the field with a left knee injury at the 4:36 mark of the fourth quarter as New Orleans tried to drive for a tying touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
The Saints picked up another first down on Derek Carr’s scramble to the Rams 16, but after three Alvin Kamara runs netted 7 yards, edge rusher Jared Verse hit Carr's arm as he threw on fourth down with 1:09 left, and the ball fluttered to the ground.
Hill’s status was as much a topic of conversation as the 21-14 defeat — the Saints’ first in three games under interim coach Darren Rizzi.
Hill, a fan favorite, waved to the crowd as it chanted his name as he was driven off the field. Whether it was the last time the 34-year-old will play this year remains to be seen. But it looked serious as teammates knelt nearby while trainers examined Hill on the field.
“I’m by no means a medical person,” Rizzi said. “I’m not going to go down that road because I’ve heard bad things before and it’s good and I’ve heard good things before and it’s bad. So we’ll just let the medical thing play out.”
In a season full of injuries for the Saints (4-8), this one could be as damaging as any. During the Saints' previous game — a 35-14 victory over the Browns — Hill rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries, caught eight passes for another 50 yards, completed an 18-yard pass and returned a kickoff 42 yards.
Despite having missed four games this season, he is tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns with six and is second to Kamara in yards rushing with 278 while playing tight end, quarterback, fullback and occasionally lining up as a running back.
“Taysom is a player you don’t see a whole lot in the league. So, having him on your team makes a big difference,” Saints tight end Juwan Johnson said. “It’s not always the best not having him around. We don’t know what’s going on, but at the end of the day it’s not easy.”
If Hill is out for an extended period, the offense will not be the same. The Saints already have lost top receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed for the year.
“We got to change some things around,” tackle Taliese Fuaga said. “Taysom’s a big part of this offense, a big part of this team really in general.”
The banged-up Saints lost a couple more players because of injuries. Shortly before Hill departed, guard Nick Saldiveri also was carted off with a left knee injury.
Near the end of the third quarter, safety Tyrann Mathieu exited with a shoulder injury after tackling Rams running back Kyren Williams, although Mathieu said after the game that he would be OK.
New Orleans already was without starting center Erik McCoy, who re-injured a groin against Cleveland in Week 11 after missing the previous seven games and could not recover during the Saints' Week 12 bye.
“I feel like we were able to compartmentalize it,” Carr said. “I thought our focus was good. Nick gets hurt and then Taysom gets hurt and like, the rallying cry is, ‘Let’s do it for them.’ I thought our guys were really focused.”
The Saints were hoping to climb back in the NFC South race. A win would have moved them within a game of first-place Atlanta and Tampa Bay.
Instead, Carr’s touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and tying 2-point conversion on a pass to Dante Pettis early in the fourth quarter were not enough.
The Rams scored touchdowns on three of their first four second-half possessions and ran out the final 69 seconds after Carr’s forced incompletion.
“I can’t say the word I want to say because my mom always gets mad when I say it and she texts me every time,” Carr said when asked how he felt after the game. “But I would say angry, upset because we just expect so much of us as a team. It hurts.”
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New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) is tackled by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Tyler Davis (90) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) goes down with an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) leaps over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams (24) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) is carted off the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence walked out of EverBank Stadium with his wife by his side and a smile on his face, a positive sign for the oft-injured Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback.
Lawrence was carted off the field after taking a violent blow to the facemask from Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, a hit that prompted a sideline-clearing brawl and a secondary scuffle.
“It’s a play that really has no business being in our league,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said following his team's 23-20 loss Sunday.
Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback.
Lawrence clenched both fists after the hit — movements consistent with what’s referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury. He was on the ground for several minutes as teammates came to his defense and mobbed Al-Shaair, whose latest perceived cheap shot could result in a suspension.
“That was a dumb hit on his part,” Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said. “Hate to see it. The first thing I thought of was to go get him because it’s your brother, and that’s the quarterback.”
Added tight end Evan Engram: “I saw him sliding and then I saw the hit, and then, honestly, (my emotions) just took over. I just knew it was wrong. It was just a dirty play, and you stick up for your guys.”
Lawrence eventually was helped to his feet and loaded into the front seat of a cart to be taken off the field. He was not transported to a hospital for tests. He was quickly ruled out with a concussion, though.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out/been praying for me,” Lawrence posted on X hours after the game. “I'm home and feeling much better. Means a lot. Thank you all.”
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans called it “unfortunate.”
“That’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans said. “Want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, get a penalty there. Just have to be smarter when a quarterback is going down.
“Just unfortunate play, not representative of who Azeez is. Like, he’s a smart player, really great leader for us.”
Al-Shaair was ejected for “an illegal hit on the quarterback, unnecessary, to the neck and head area,” referee Land Clark said in a pool report. Jaguars rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones also was ejected for throwing a punch during the melee.
As Al-Shaair was leaving the field, fans started screaming at him. Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff joined in, prompting another altercation with Al-Shaair. Texans teammate Will Anderson grabbed Al-Shaair and was escorting him off the field when a fan threw a water bottle and hit Anderson in the helmet. The fan was later ejected.
Officials and coaches got the teams under control before play resumed. Al-Shaair was not in the locker room when it opened to reporters after the game.
“I just want to say prayers to Trevor,” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “I really hope and pray he’s OK. Prayers to his family as well. But, yeah, still rocking with Azeez. I don’t think that was his intent, and I pray that Trevor is OK and his family is right there with him.”
Mac Jones replaced Lawrence and rallied the Jaguars in the fourth quarter. Jones completed 20 of 32 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Pederson declined to speculate on Lawrence's status moving forward, especially with the Jags now eliminated in the AFC South.
Lawrence, the top pick in the 2021 draft, missed a game for the first time in his professional career in 2023 because of a sprained right shoulder sustained in Week 16. He also missed significant practice time because of other injuries: a sprained left knee in Week 6, a sprained right ankle in Week 13 and a concussion in Week 15.
“Trevor is a warrior,” Jones said. “We’re all praying for him. We definitely have his back. For him to play today was incredible. He’s a tough dude. Really wanted to get the win for him. Obviously fell short. But definitely praying for him. I know we all have his back for sure.”
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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, second from right, looks on a trainers attend to quarterback Trevor Lawrence after a late hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Players fight after Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) hit Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence with a late hit during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) leaves the field on a cart after getting injured on a late hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17, right) jumps on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) after his late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is looked at by trainers after a late hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. Lawrence was injured on the play. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence warms up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws a pass while he is pressured by Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
