Azeez Al-Shaair
Getty
Texans' star linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair recently revealed he underwent surgery to fix a thumb injury he was dealing with
The Houston Texans have an important offseason of work ahead of them. After crashing out of the 2025 NFL Playoffs with an ugly loss to the New England Patriots in the divisional round, the Texans will once again be looking to find a way to get themselves over the hump in the playoffs.
Last season, the strength of Houston was its defense, and at the heart of that unit was star linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Despite battling through a thumb injury for much of the year, Al-Shaair put together the best season of his career. And with the offseason underway, he shared an update on his injury status that will surely catch the attention of the Texans and their fans.
Azeez Al-Shaair Undergoes Surgery on Thumb Injury
Aaron Wilson
Successful thumb surgery for #Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Al-Shaair said at close of season he would need to get it repaired in offseason. Full recovery expected for offseason for hard-hitting team captain @KPRC2
Al-Shaair didn’t hear his name called in the 2019 NFL Draft, but he still managed to latch on with the San Francisco 49ers. After making their team right out of training camp, Al-Shaair started strictly as a special teams player, before gradually earning more and more snaps on the defensive side of the ball.
By 2021, Al-Shaair was a starting linebacker for the Niners’ defense, and it appeared he was going to be a key part of their future for years to come. After a rough season in 2022, though, he signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans in free agency. In his lone season with the Titans, Al-Shaair racked up a career-high 163 tackles, which earned him a three-year, $34 million contract from the Texans in free agency the ensuing offseason.
After missing six games in 2024, Al-Shaair put everything together in 2025. In 16 games, he racked up 103 tackles, two interceptions, nine pass deflections, and one fumble forced. Those big numbers earned Al-Shaair the first Pro Bowl selection of his career, and he could be in line for a contract extension this offseason. First, he needs to get healthy, and he shared in a post on his Instagram surgery that he underwent surgery to fix his injured thumb.
“Successful thumb surgery for Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair,” Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston shared in a post on X. “Al-Shaair said at close of season he would need to get it repaired in offseason. Full recovery expected for offseason for hard-hitting team captain.”
Texans Looking to Get Their Star-Studded Defense Some Help in 2026
Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans
GettyAzeez al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans reacts after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers.
Given the timing of this surgery, Al-Shaair should have more than enough time to get himself ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. And as his production indicates, he is a vital piece of the team’s defense, so having him on the field as much as possible next season is going to be critical for Houston if it intends on taking a step forward in the AFC South division.
The main goal for the Texans as a team this offseason, though, revolves around beefing up an offense that simply could not support its defense in the playoffs. Protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud is going to be of the utmost importance, and adding another weapon or two for him to throw to couldn’t hurt either. Houston has a strong team, but if it pushes the right buttons this offseason, it could emerge as a dark horse Super Bowl contender next season.