Washington commanders will be without a midfielder Frankie Luvu when they spend Detroit Lions this coming Sunday because NFL suspended him for one game after a hip tackle made during Sunday's 38-14 loss to the team. Seattle Seahawks, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. It was Luvu's third tackle of the season.
The hip tackle was outlawed. NFL until the 2024 season. Here's how the league defines now-illegal play:
“It is a violation if a player uses the following technique to take a runner to the ground: (a) grabs the runner with both hands or wraps his arms around the runner with both hands; and (b) relieves weight by rotating and lowering the hips and/or lower body, landing and catching the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”
Although a hip drop tackle is technically a 15-yard penalty, officials are hesitant to wave the flag in such plays. We've seen a number of hip tackles go unpunished on Sundays but then be penalized after the fact. The same thing happened with Luwu's violations.
In nine games this season, Luvu has 50 tackles, two sacks, two passes defensed and three quarterback hits. Considering Luwu's absence in week 10, this could be Jordan Magee who takes his place in the starting lineup next to the veteran Bobby Wagner.
Sunday turned out to be brutal for the commanders. Not only did Washington go 3-6 and lose Louv in one game, but they also lost a quarterback. Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow, wide receiver and kick returner Luke McCaffrey broken collarbone and defender Marshon Lattimore tore the cruciate ligament.
