NFL fines Ravens’ Roquan Smith for illegal tackle that led to crushing Chris Godwin injury

Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith has been fined $16,833 for nan arguable hip-drop tackle that dislocated Chris Godwin’s ankle, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. 

The injury, which occurred Oct. 21 successful nan Buccaneers’ Week 7 41-31 location nonaccomplishment to nan Ravens, will require room and whitethorn sideline Godwin for nan remainder of nan season.

It’s a crushing nonaccomplishment for nan Buccaneers since Godwin had been 1 of nan NFL’s most-productive receivers pinch 50 receptions for 576 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Adding to nan crushing quality of nan rustle is that Godwin suffered nan wounded connected a tackle that nan NFL is attempting to region from nan game and 1 that is expected to consequence successful a penalty.

A hip-drop tackle, arsenic defined by nan NFL, “occurs erstwhile a defender wraps up a shot bearer and rotates aliases swivels his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto [the] shot carrier’s legs.”

With little than 1 infinitesimal remaining successful nan 4th fourth Monday and Tampa Bay trailing by 10, Godwin caught a walk adjacent midfield from backmost Baker Mayfield arsenic Smith bore down from his near side. 

With 2 arms, nan linebacker wrapped Godwin astir nan precocious body. The interaction induced Smith’s legs to plaything guardant and his assemblage weight to onshore connected Godwin’s near leg, which caused nan ankle injury. 

Though nary punishment was called connected nan play, it was instantly evident that nan wide receiver was successful superior discomfort. Unable to get up nether his ain power, Tampa Bay’s aesculapian unit rushed onto nan field. Shortly thereafter, nan cart was called retired to retrieve Godwin. 

ESPN declined to show immoderate replays of nan tackle owed to nan gruesome quality of nan injury.

Before nan punishment occurred, commentator Joe Buck wondered aloud why Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles still had each of his starters retired connected nan section down 10 pinch nary timeouts remaining.

“I cognize it’s a 10-point game, and I cognize you don’t springiness up connected games, but astatine immoderate point, you want to get retired of present and unrecorded to conflict different day,” Buck said connected nan telecast.

Bowles has defended his determination to time off Godwin and different starters successful nan crippled passim nan week.

“He’s a player. We’re trying to triumph nan shot game,” Bowles said Tuesday. “We were still down 10. We’re trying to get other points and footwear different onside kick. [The injury] conscionable happened.”

With chap wideout Mike Evans besides exiting nan crippled — he suffered a correct hamstring wounded that will support him retired done astatine slightest nan Buccaneers’ Week 11 bye — Tampa Bay is earnestly short-staffed successful nan hands department. 

On Sunday, nan 4-3 Buccaneers big nan Atlanta Falcons, besides 4-3, pinch nan NFC South divisional lead connected nan line. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m ET.