“You see why because when you wrap up and you lose your weight and swing it back over and it falls on their body and the back of their legs, people have been getting hurt,” NBC commentator Cris Collinsworth remarked at the drama unfolding on the field during Sunday night’s game between the Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears.

In a twist of fate, Texans running back Joe Mixon left the game with an injury following what many believe was a hip-drop tackle – a move the league banned just months ago. The incident occurred when Bears linebacker TJ Edwards brought Mixon down in a manner that raised eyebrows and questions about the effectiveness of the new rule.

Adam Schefter reported on X that Mixon is now questionable to return, leaving fans and the team in suspense. The tackle, which went unflagged, has sparked outrage among fans and analysts alike. Nati Sports expressed their concern, stating, “Prayers for Joe Mixon… HDT goes unflagged again… Nasty looking on his ankle/knee.”

The play in question fits the NFL’s definition of a hip-drop tackle like a glove. According to the league press release back in March, such a 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”, Edwards’ takedown of Mixon seemed to tick all these boxes, yet no flag flew.

This moment serves as a stark reminder of the challenges the NFL faces in implementing its new rule. The league’s competition committee chairman, Rick McKay, had previously stated that officials must see three elements to call the penalty: the grab, the swivel, and the unweighting. In the heat of the moment, with bodies flying and the crowd roaring, spotting all three elements is no small feat.

The Mixon incident isn’t just about one player or one game. It’s a microcosm of the broader debate surrounding player safety and the essence of football. As Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones put it back then to Yahoo Sports, “It’s just too sudden, like they’ve been shot between the eyes when they catch them just right. This statement underscores the fierce nature of the sport and the fine line between a game-changing tackle and a season-ending injury.

The Hip-Drop dilemma creates a season of confusion

The Mixon injury is just the newest chapter in what’s turning up to be a season of lack of clarity surrounding the hip-drop tackle ban. Earlier in the season, New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau became the first player to fall victim to the new rule, copping a $4,696 fine for his tackle on Minnesota’s Jordan Addison.

But the inconsistency in enforcement has left players, coaches, and fans scratching their heads. In a Jets–49ers matchup, a seemingly clear hip-drop tackle by Michael Carter II on Juan Jennings went unflagged, despite Jennings limping off the field. This discrepancy has only fueled the fire of those questioning the rule’s implementation.

The new rule met with wide opposition from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). “The players oppose any attempt by the NFL to implement a rule prohibiting a ‘swivel hip-drop’ tackle,” the union asserted in March, adding that players, coaches, officials, and fans would also be confused. This pushback also shows the question of when safety concerns meet the basic nature of the game head-on.

As the season wears on, we will be watching to see how the League negotiates this point. Will we see more injuries like Mixon’s slip through the net? Or will that strict enforcement cause a rash of player penalties and change football forever?