With a mobile quarterback like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Justin Fields, defenses know they have to work even harder to take him down. He’s not going to just fall down like Peyton Manning or even Bo Nix in Week 2 against the Steelers’ fierce defense. Twice this year, on one rush and one sack, it’s looked like Fields has been taken down by the now-illegal hip drop tackle. The NFL banned the play this offseason after several players have suffered serious injuries like Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews in 2023.
What should be made clear up front, and I/we have discussed it several times this offseason, the NFL is policing hip drops with fines more than flags.