Ravens HC John Harbaugh chimes in on the hip-drop tackle debate after Mark Andrews' injury
The Baltimore Ravens will likely be without Mark Andrews for the rest of the season. Andrews came away from the Ravens’ home win against the Cincinnati Bengals with an ankle injury. He was initially listed as questionable to return due to his injury, but he was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest. […]
The Baltimore Ravens will likely be without Mark Andrews for the rest of the season.
Andrews came away from the Ravens’ home win against the Cincinnati Bengals with an ankle injury. He was initially listed as questionable to return due to his injury, but he was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
Andrews suffered the ankle ailment after being on the end of a hip-drop tackle from Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh questions whether Wilson even needed to complete such a play to bring down the veteran tight end.
"It's a tough tackle," Harbaugh said during his postgame press conference. “Was it even necessary in that situation? The other one on the sideline, there’s always plays you send into the league to have them look at and have them interpret for you."
As Harbaugh touched on, Wilson also completed a hip-drop tackle on Lamar Jackson in the first quarter, although the sixth-year passer ended up remaining in the game after the play.
The debate over whether the hip-drop tackle should be banned was a much-talked-about topic during last season’s NFL playoffs. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard each were on the end of such a tackle during the NFL Divisional Round. Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain injury, while Pollard sustained both a high ankle sprain ailment and a broken fibula.
The hip-drop tackle debate carries on
The NFL and the NFLPA are on opposite sides of this matter. NFL executive Jeff Miller said last month that the league is considering banning the hip-drop tackle, as it increases the risk of injury by 25 times compared to a standard tackle.
On the other hand, the NFLPA is against any rules prohibiting the hip-drop tackle. The labor union made clear in March that such a ban would be "unfair to players and unrealistic to implement."
Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen is among those who do not want a ban placed on this tackle.
"At the end of the day, we play football," Queen said after the Ravens’ win over the Bengals. "I hate that Mark [Andrews] is hurt. Prayers for him, but at the end of the day, we play football. We play a tackling sport.
"I don't think a hip-drop tackle is that bad of a thing. How else do you want us to tackle? Just let the guy run past you? I hope Mark [Andrews] has a speedy recovery. I pray for that, and, at the end of the day, we play football. We have pads on. We have all that stuff on for a reason."
On the Ravens’ part, they are not optimistic that Andrews will make his return to action later in the year. Harbaugh said after the game that the three-time Pro Bowler has what "looks like a season-ending injury."
Andrews has recorded 45 receptions for 544 receiving yards this season.
