Baltimore Ravens’ Mark Andrews sees season ended by hip-drop tackle but what is it?
As the debate surrounding the legality of the hip-drop tackle continues to heat up, the injury to Baltimore’s tight end will likely add further fuel to the fire.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, it would be fair to say that the controversy surrounding this now-infamous type of tackle in the NFL, will only intensify after the Ravens’ tight end became the latest player to suffer the effects of it.
Ravens’ Mark Andrews’ season ended by a hip-drop tackle
If it feels like the hip-drop tackle debate is becoming constant, then prepare yourself as the conversation is about to get more intense. On Thursday night, in a game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, it was the Ravens’ tight end, Mark Andrews, who became the latest recipient of the controversial move, and as a result, the 28-year-old’s season is now officially over. Andrews’ injury occurred in the first quarter of the contest when he was given a hip-drop tackle by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson.
In case you’re wondering, yes, this is the same type of tackle that resulted in the high ankle sprain suffered by Patrick Mahomes last postseason, an injury that sparked the debate in the first place. Following the game which the Ravens managed to win 34-20, head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that the injury was in fact serious and that “it looks like a season-ending injury.” For context, Andrews was tackled near the goal line during the end of his team’s opening drive. Clearly in immense pain on the ground, he was ruled out of the game before the quarter came to an end.
What is the hip-drop tackle and why is it a problem?
To make matters simple, the hip-drop tackle is implemented by using one’s weight to bring an opponent to the ground. As is often the case, the tackle can result in the ball-carrying player’s legs being trapped underneath the player who is tackling him resulting in significant injuries. To that end, the league has been exploring the option of banning it altogether. Interestingly, there are many who have criticized the idea, citing it as another way in which the game of football is being made softer.
Most recently both Tom Brady and his former teammate Rob Gronkowski had similar things to say. Regardless, there is still a growing list of players with major injuries i.e., something probably needs to be done. As for Andrews, the three-time Pro Bowler is a major part of the Ravens offense, as evidenced by the 521 yards and six touchdowns that he had prior to injury. Needless to say, this is a major loss for the team and even more so now that they sit atop the AFC North with a record of 8-3. While a rule change at this point won’t do anything for Andrews, it could do a lot for others going forward.