The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were attempting a miracle comeback against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night as quarterback Baker Mayfield connected with wide receiver Chris Godwin on a 21-yard strike late in the fourth quarter. That would become the last reception of Godwin’s season, who suffered a dislocated ankle, which would require surgery to repair.
As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league has reviewed the hit by Smith, deemed it a hip-drop tackle, and issued a $16,833 fine. The league has been trying to outlaw the hip-drop tackle as it frequently causes very serious injuries where a defender’s full body weight is placed on the lower extremities of the player they are making the tackle on- and oftentimes, the lower limbs are put in precarious positions.
Immediately upon being tackled, it was evident that something was wrong with either the leg or the ankle of the Bucs superstar receiver. He could not get up off the turf and was carted off wearing an air cast on his leg. At the time of the tackle, it did not appear to be anything other than an accident, and with ESPN’s decision not to air the replay during the broadcast, it was difficult to make a determination at that time. However, a hip-drop tackle was easy to spot with the video and multiple angles being readily available now, such as the NFL’s All 22.
In the final year of his contract with the Buccaneers, Godwin was on pace to set career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. His chemistry with Mayfield was at a high in their second year playing together, and his reliability has kept Mayfield near, or at, the top of most quarterback stats through seven games this season.