Bears’ T.J. Edwards Fined $17K for Hip-Drop Tackle That Injured Texans’ Joe Mixon

Julia StumbaughSeptember 21, 2024

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards has been fined $16,883 for an unpenalized hip-drop tackle on Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Saturday.

Mixon will be sidelined for Week 3 with an ankle injury, which he suffered after Edwards tackled him in the third quarter of the Bears’ Week 2 loss last Sunday.

Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroThe NFL fined #Bears LB T.J. Edwards $16,883 for unnecessary roughness — a hip-drop tackle that injured #Texans RB Joe Mixon last week.pic.twitter.com/6e6F1UyuWG

The fine is part of the NFL’s ongoing efforts to crack down on the newly-banned tackle. New York Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson and linebacker Darius Muasau were both fined for unpenalized hip-drop tackles in Week 1.

Following Week 2, the NFL levied fines for hip-drop tackles against Edwards as well as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley and Los Angeles Rams defensive end Desjuan Johnson, per Pelissero.

None of the tackles subject to these fines were flagged as penalties on the field, Pelissero noted.

NFL owners unanimously voted in March to ban the hip-drop tackle ahead of the 2024 season after determining the tackle was 20 times more likely to injure players’ lower extremities than other tackles, according to the league.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters on Monday that Edwards’ play was “definitely” a hip-drop tackle, and that Mixon’s injury showed why the league had banned the move.

Mixon similarly called for the NFL and NFLPA to “put your money where your mouth is” regarding enforcement of the ban when posting on social media after the game.

The Texans running back added that he was told by a referee on the field that the play wasn’t a hip-drop tackle.

⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ @Joe_MainMixonWhen I got up I asked the ref where is the flag that was a hip tackle. & his reply was no it wasn’t 🤦🏽‍♂️ https://t.co/A5fWjguzGH

The Texans announced on Saturday that Mixon would not travel with the Texans to the team’s Week 3 road game against the Minnesota Vikings. The running back has not yet been moved to the injured reserve, so Houston is apparently expecting him to return within four games, although he has yet to return to practice since the injury.

Edwards could meanwhile face steeper financial penalties if he is found committing another illegal tackle in the future. A second violation comes with a $22,511 price tag, per KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson.