This offseason, the NFL announced that it was banning the hip-drop tackle. According to the new rule, this form of takedown is now a penalty and this will also cost the defense 15 yards plus an automatic first down.
However, the officials have done a poor job of upholding this rule in the 31 games this season. Several hip-drop tackles have been spotted in games over the first two weeks of the season, but the officials have done nothing about them.
During the Sunday encounter between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears, we got another hip-drop tackle that led to running back Joe Mixon being injured. Even then, the officials did not see anything wrong with this play.
You can check out the video of that here.
Joe Mixon felt uncomfortable and immediately left the game. After that, he was officially listed as questionable to return with an ankle injury. However, he did return to the game in the fourth quarter.
The linebacker of the Bears, T.J. Edwards was not penalized for his actions. However, it looks like the league could still fine him for this tackle.
If you are wondering what the new rule is. Let’s take a look at the new rule of hip-drop tackle.
“It is a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground: (a) grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and (b) unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”