Hip-drop tackle: Texans’ Joe Mixon criticizes rule after injury against Bears
The NFL announced this offseason that Banning the hip-drop tackleAccording to the new rule, this method of takedown is now a penalty, and will result in the defense losing 15 yards as well as an automatic first down. However, in the 31 games of the season, the officials have done a poor job of upholding this rule.
According to NFL Media, the latest victim of a hip-drop was Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon, who will now undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his ankle injury.
Mixon immediately left the game and was officially considered questionable to return due to an ankle injury. He returned in the fourth quarter. However, after the game, Mixon voiced his disapproval about the lack of enforcement.
“The NFL and NFLPA have insisted on this as a rule and for a reason,” he wrote on Twitter. “It’s time to put your money where your mouth is.”
Here’s what happened:
“Joe rolled. The guy’s weight definitely came down on his ankle,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “It didn’t look good, in my opinion. We’ll be evaluating Joe throughout the week. Hopefully he’s OK. Gotta watch the film and see if it was in fact a hip-drop tackle.”
The first two weeks of the season have seen numerous hip-drop tackles, but the yellow handkerchiefs in the zebra pockets remain. In fact, sources told CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones that the league Two hip-drop tackles identified That should have been called as a penalty in Week 1.
While Bears linebacker TJ Edwards was also not penalized for his actions, it seems the league could still fine him for this tackle. If you’re curious, here’s how the NFL now defines an illegal hip-drop tackle:
A foul is committed if a player uses the following techniques to throw a runner to the ground: (a) grabs the runner with both hands or wraps his arms around him; and (b) reduces his weight by twisting and dropping his hips and/or lower body, trapping the runner’s leg at or below the knee.
