Baltimore Ravens star in hot water as gruesome injury leads to NFL review
The NFL is reviewing the tackle that led to Chris Godwin’s season-ending injury in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football
Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Roquan Smith could face disciplinary action as the NFL probes into whether he used a prohibited hip-drop tackle on Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ receiver Chris Godwin.
During Monday Night Football, the Ravens clinched a commanding 41-31 victory over the Bucs, thanks to Lamar Jackson’s impressive five touchdowns. However, the match concluded on a bitter note when Godwin sustained a season-ending dislocated ankle in the final minute.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that the NFL is now scrutinising the play and investigating if Smith’s tackle contained all the elements of the hip-drop tackle, which was unanimously voted to be banned at the annual league meeting back in March. If the review determines the tackle breached the revised rule, Smith will be liable to a fine.
The NFL recently confirmed it had reviewed 22 instances of so-called hip-drop tackles. Described officially by the league as a situation where a defender approaches from behind or the side, envelops the player with the ball in their arms, thrusts their hips, loses their own weight and collapses directly onto the opponent’s lower body.
