Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith has been fined $16,833 for the controversial hip-drop tackle that dislocated Chris Godwin’s ankle, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.
The injury, which occurred Oct. 21 in the Buccaneers’ Week 7 41-31 home loss to the Ravens, will require surgery and may sideline Godwin for the rest of the season.
It’s a crushing loss for the Buccaneers since Godwin had been one of the NFL’s most-productive receivers with 50 receptions for 576 yards and five touchdowns.
Adding to the crushing nature of the blow is that Godwin suffered the injury on a tackle that the NFL is attempting to remove from the game and one that is supposed to result in a penalty.
A hip-drop tackle, as defined by the NFL, “occurs when a defender wraps up a ball carrier and rotates or swivels his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto [the] ball carrier’s legs.”
With less than one minute remaining in the fourth quarter Monday and Tampa Bay trailing by 10, Godwin caught a pass near midfield from quarterback Baker Mayfield as Smith bore down from his left side.
With two arms, the linebacker wrapped Godwin around the upper body. The contact induced Smith’s legs to swing forward and his body weight to land on Godwin’s left leg, which caused the ankle injury.
Though no penalty was called on the play, it was immediately apparent that the wide receiver was in serious discomfort. Unable to get up under his own power, Tampa Bay’s medical staff rushed onto the field. Shortly thereafter, the cart was called out to retrieve Godwin.
ESPN declined to show any replays of the tackle due to the gruesome nature of the injury.
Before the penalty occurred, commentator Joe Buck wondered aloud why Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles still had all of his starters out on the field down 10 with no timeouts remaining.
“I know it’s a 10-point game, and I know you don’t give up on games, but at some point, you want to get out of here and live to fight another day,” Buck said on the telecast.
Bowles has defended his decision to leave Godwin and other starters in the game throughout the week.
“He’s a player. We’re trying to win the ball game,” Bowles said Tuesday. “We were still down 10. We’re trying to get extra points and kick another onside kick. [The injury] just happened.”
With fellow wideout Mike Evans also exiting the game — he suffered a right hamstring injury that will keep him out through at least the Buccaneers’ Week 11 bye — Tampa Bay is seriously short-staffed in the hands department.
On Sunday, the 4-3 Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons, also 4-3, with the NFC South divisional lead on the line. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m ET.
