The NFL is reportedly considering a new rule change that would make defending somewhat more difficult in the wake of the injuries suffered by star players this season.
The likes of Patrick Mahomes, Tony Pollard, and Deebo Samuel have all sustained worrying injuries during the campaign. And it’s something the league is looking to avoid going forward, though there is no real way to curb injuries short of outlawing tackling altogether.
The injuries to the aforementioned players were all the result of a controversial action referred to as a “hip drop” tackle, which originated in rugby and has become popular in the NFL over the last few seasons. The tackle requires a defender to wrap a ball carrier up at the hips before dropping their full body weight onto that player’s lower-leg area.
According to Des Bieler and Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the NFL does not deem the tackles to Mahomes and Pollard illegal, yet they are reviewing “the mechanics” of the move with a view to possibly making it an infraction.
Maske also noted that the National Rugby League started issuing fines and suspensions for the tackle in 2020.
An official with the NRL said that decision came after the Sydney-based organization “saw an increased occurrence of these types of tackles, some of which resulted in serious injuries to attacking players including a broken ankle, ACL tear and many high-ankle sprains.”
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
The league has already set limits on tackling so it’s likely that they would get some pushback if they attempt to add more. However, they might be left without a choice should the injuries continue at such a rate.
