NFL to review ‘hip-drop’ tackle that led to Bucs star Chris Godwin’s gruesome ankle injury

The NFL is investigating a possible ‘hip-drop’ tackle on the play that injured Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Chris Godwin during the closing stages of Monday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. 

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is the one who brought Godwin to the turf and inadvertently caused the injury.  

The NFL banned hip-drop tackles in March due to the uptick in injuries the maneuver caused last season.  

As stated in the NFL rulebook: ‘A hip-drop tackle occurs when a defender wraps up a ball carrier and rotates or swivels his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto ball carrier’s legs during the tackle.’

If Smith’s tackle was deemed to be of the hip-drop nature, he would be fined $16,883, per ESPN. 

The possible illegal tackle likely ended the season of Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Chris Godwin

Smith’s tackle was not deemed to be a hip-drop tackle during the game, which also would have game with a 15-yard penalty. 

Smith would not be suspended for the tackle.  

Godwin was carted off the field with an air cast over his left leg. A dislocated ankle is the believed injury, which would need surgery and end Godwin’s season.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles drew some criticism after the game for leaving one of his best players on the field with less than two minutes left in a game his team could not win. 

‘It’s unfortunate he (Chris Godwin) got hurt and we feel bad about that. But he’s a football player and he wanted to be in the game just like Baker and everyone else wanted to be in the game,’ Bowles said after the game. 

Godwin will be a free agent in March with Monday’s injury possibly being his final action as a member of the Buccaneers.