Joe Mixon of the Texans was injured in an obvious hip drop tackle, but was not penalized

A big topic of the offseason was the NFL’s elimination of the hip drop tackle, a dangerous play that had led to some high-profile injuries.

The problem may be that it is difficult for referees to recognize in real time what a hip drop tackle is.

There were some plays that were not called that looked like hip drop tackles. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen thought he was the victim of such a tackle in Week 1 and argued with the refs but did not receive a penalty. Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase argued with the refs after a tackle and received a 15-yard penalty, and he may have been upset that a hip drop was not called. Chase did not comment after the Bengals’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

And the play that injured Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon on Sunday night looked like a play that the NFL would penalize this season.

Mixon was pulled to the ground by Chicago Bears linebacker TJ Edwards, his foot trapped under him in what looked like a typical hip drop tackle. Mixon limped off the field and was taken to the locker room. No flag was thrown.

Mixon returned to the game shortly thereafter and was lucky that his injury was not worse.

It’s hard to watch this play and not think it was the illegal hip drop tackle. Both NBC commentators on Sunday night’s broadcast were convinced of that.

Given the speed of the game, it’s difficult to see all the mechanics of a hip drop tackle. But it was put into the rulebook for a reason, and referees need to be able to spot it when it happens. It wouldn’t have helped Mixon and his injury, but maybe it would prevent it in the future, which was the NFL’s intent.