- Hip-drop tackles have left several major players seriously injured
- The rule regarding fumbles from the end zone may also be addressed next year
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The NFL is preparing to make two major rule changes this season, according to Commissioner Rodger Goodell and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Goodell told reporters that the league is ready to ban hip-drop tackles, which have caused several notable injuries to major stars in recent seasons.
“We all have to work on getting that out of the game,” Goodell said. 'You see that it has escalated so often this season. The (potential) injury can be very devastating. We have seen that too.'
“It doesn't just happen at the NFL level. It happens on other levels. I think we have to work very hard to get rid of that this spring.”
Vincent echoed similar sentiments when he said, “We have to now… It's a gruesome piece.”
Roger Goodell and Troy Vincent told reporters that the NFL is considering major rule changes
One of the changes will be the ban on hip-drop tackles as pictured above
Hip drop tackles have led to several serious and gruesome injuries in recent years
Baltimore Ravens three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews suffered a season-ending ankle injury earlier this year after being on the receiving end of a hip-drop tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals, while Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard suffered a broken leg last season because of so a tackle.
A hip-drop tackle occurs when a defender pulls a ball carrier down by his upper body, while also putting all his weight on the attacking player's legs to bring him to the ground.
When that amount of body weight falls on an attacking player's legs, it tends to lock the player's legs at awkward angles, often leading to serious injuries.
Hip-drop tackles have become more prominent in the NFL recently due to changing tackling rules around the league in an effort to curb head injuries.
These tackles have led to an injury rate 25 times higher than other tackles, according to league officials.
Vincent went on to say that the league is looking into eliminating the rule that considers fumbles that leave the end zone as touchbacks and awards the ball to the defense.
The rule is considered controversial due to the fact that a fumble that goes out of bounds elsewhere remains in the possession of the offense.
The league is also considering changing the rules surrounding fumbles that leave the end zone
An example of the game that attracted a lot of attention this season came in Week 2, when the Minnesota Vikings faced the Philadelphia Eagles.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson lost control of the ball just before entering the end zone, and the ball went out of play after passing the pylon. Philadelphia gained possession and won the game after the call.
Another famous example occurred in 2017, where a touchdown by New York Jets tight end Austin Sefarian-Jenkins was turned into a fumble in the end zone and a turnover.
After the overturned call, the New England Patriots would go on to win the game.