Chris Godwin injury: Ravens LB Roquan Smith receives punishment for illegal hip-drop tackle

The NFL has fined Baltimore Ravens (5-2) linebacker Roquan Smith $16,883 for the hip-drop tackle that resulted in Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) receiver Chris Godwin suffering a dislocated ankle in the fourth quarter of Monday’s Week 7 contest.

The league determined Smith’s tackle on Godwin to be a hip-drop, prohibited during games. It is at least the ninth such instance this season, though there have been zero on-field penalties for the play through seven weeks, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. The tackle warrants a 15-yard loss and an automatic first down.

The NFL has sought to outlaw the hip-drop tackle from the game, citing an injury rate 20-25 times higher than that of other tackles.

Under the NFL rulebook, a hip-drop tackle is defined as a technique where the defender either grabs or wraps a runner with both hands or arms, then unweighting himself by “swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”

Buccaneers lose Chris Godwin, Mike Evans in MNF defeat to Ravens

Godwin’s injury is the most significant to come from a hip-drop tackle this season. He will miss the remainder of the season, a huge blow to him in a contract year, as well as to the Buccaneers. Godwin, 28, was on pace for his best year to date, having hauled in a league-leading 50 receptions for 576 yards and five touchdowns.

Tampa Bay has taken a leap offensively under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, averaging 383.4 yards per game (fifth in the NFL) and 29.9 yards per game (fourth). Godwin has had a lot to do with that, as has fellow wideout Mike Evans. Evans reaggravated his hamstring injury in the 41-31 loss to the Ravens. He is out until after the Buccaneers’ bye in Week 11.

The Buccaneers will be forced to rely on veteran Sterling Shepard, as well as youngsters Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer in the passing game with both Godwin and Evans sidelined. Head coach Todd Bowles is “comfortable” with the team’s remaining options.

“We’ve looked at outside the building. But to get a true No. 1 in here you gotta make a massive trade and give up quite a bit,” Bowles said Tuesday. “That’s not where we are at this point. We feel comfortable with the guys in the building.”