Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon brought up the implementation of the NFL's new hip-drop tackle rule after he was injured in the team's 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The NFL and NFLPA made it a rule and an emphasis for a reason. Time to put your money where your mouth is.
Near the start of the third quarter, Mixon was tackled by Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards after catching a pass from C.J. Stroud. Edwards appeared to use the hip-drop tackle to bring down the running back, who was forced to briefly exit the game due to an ankle injury.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Mixon is getting an MRI on Monday.
Edwards wasn't flagged for the play. Mixon claimed in a separate post that he asked for a penalty to be called but an official didn't believe that a hip-drop tackle was utilized.
When I got up I asked the ref where is the flag that was a hip tackle. & his reply was no it wasn't 🤦🏽♂️ https://t.co/A5fWjguzGH
Team owners voted unanimously to approve the removal of the tackle in March. The league analyzed over 20,000 tackles over the past two seasons, determining that the hip-drop technique resulted in lower body injuries at a rate of 20 times higher than other tackles (via NFL.com).
Players Complain About Lack of Enforcement
Players have complained about the lack of in-game implementation for the new rule, which has typically resulted in fines. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was visibly frustrated during a 26-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday after he believed that a hip-drop tackle was used.
Ja'Marr Chase's frustrations stem from him believing he was hit with a hip drop tackle, per @tracywolfson pic.twitter.com/xcigjAh2je
Multiple players on the New York Giants' defense were penalized for previous usage of the technique in Week 1. Cornerback Adoree' Jackson and linebacker Darius Muasau were fined $9,804 and $4,696, respectively, following a loss to the Minnesota Vikings (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk).
Mixon's Injury Raises Concerns for Texans
Mixon joined Houston in the offseason, signing a three-year contract extension worth $27 million with the organization following a trade with the Bengals. His 2024 debut was impressive, recording 159 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries in Week 1.
The 28-year-old's status moving forward is uncertain, but the Texans will hope that he's able to be back on the field for their Week 3 game against the Vikings.
