Texans submit footage of the hip-drop tackle involving their star running back to the NFL for evaluation

After a hard-fought victory against the Chicago Bears, the Houston Texans are seeking a second opinion from the NFL regarding a controversial missed call. Head coach DeMeco Ryans expressed his concerns on Monday about a hit by Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards on running back Joe Mixon, which he believes was an illegal hip-drop tackle.

In the game, which ended 19-13 in favor of the Texans, Ryans reviewed the tape and concluded that Edwards’ tackle indeed fit the description of a hip-drop maneuver, where a defender unweights themselves and puts their weight on the ball carrier’s legs. This technique has been under scrutiny due to its association with injuries, prompting the NFL to ban it earlier this offseason in response to an increase in lower-body injuries.

Ryans stated, “With the tackle, it was definitely, in my mind, it’s considered the hip-drop when the defender unweights himself and puts all of his weight on the runner’s legs. You see why we want to get the hip-drop tackle out of the game because it causes a lot of injuries when it happens.”

The Texans plan to send footage of the incident to the league office for further evaluation. As for Mixon, who recently signed a three-year extension after being traded to Houston, he returned to play after undergoing medical evaluation but was limited in his performance, finishing with just 27 yards on nine carries.

Mixon took to social media after the game to voice his frustrations about the missed call, emphasizing that the NFL and NFLPA established this rule for a reason: “Time to put your money where your mouth is,” he tweeted.

Looking ahead, the Texans will be evaluating Mixon’s condition throughout the week as they prepare for their upcoming game against the Minnesota Vikings. They are already facing challenges with Dameon Pierce inactive due to a hamstring injury.

This situation highlights ongoing discussions about player safety and the enforcement of new rules aimed at protecting athletes on the field. As teams adapt to these changes, fans and players alike will be watching closely to see how effectively they are implemented moving forward.