The Houston Texans defeated the Chicago Bears 16-10 on Sunday night in a game that was not nearly as close as the final score would make it appear. Texans quarterback CJ Stroud completed 23 of 36 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown while the Houston defense sacked Bears quarterback Caleb Williams seven times.
Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made four field goals, most of which from over 50 yards away to keep Chicago chasing Houston.
Unfortunately, the Texans lost running back Joe Mixon in the third quarter on a play that had their star heated during and after the game.
Houston Texans Running Back Joe Mixon Suffered an Ankle Injury on an Apparent Illegal Tackle
Early in the third quarter, Mixon was tackled by Bears linebacker TJ Edwards and promptly headed to the locker room to get his ankle checked out. As one can see in the video below, Mixon took a shot to the ankle on what appears to have been an illegal hip-drop tackle:
the man making this tackle on Joe Mixon should be put in cuffs…
pic.twitter.com/OMUX4Z2Oae— Gavin McHugh (@gavinmchughh) September 16, 2024
Mixon finished the night with seven carries for 25 yards. While he returned to the game, he played just seven snaps after the injury and tackle.
After the game, Mixon took to social media to air his frustration with the NFL as there was no flag on the play for the illegal tackle.
Houston Texans Running Back Joe Mixon Calls Out the NFL for Not Enforcing the Hip-Drop Tackle
After the game, Mixon made two posts regarding the play on which he was injured. In the first one, he called out the NFL for not enforcing the ban on hip-drop tackles, which was agreed upon in March of this year: “The NFL and NFLPA made it a rule and an emphasis for a reason. Time to put your money where your mouth is.”
The NFL and NFLPA made it a rule and an emphasis for a reason. Time to put your money where your mouth is.
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) September 16, 2024
In the second one, he claims that the referee denied that it was a hip-drop tackles: “When I got up I asked the ref where is the flag that was a hip tackle. & his reply was no it wasn’t.”
When I got up I asked the ref where is the flag that was a hip tackle. & his reply was no it wasn’t 🤦🏽♂️ https://t.co/A5fWjguzGH
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) September 16, 2024
Despite there being no flag on the play, NFL insider Ian Rapoport has revealed that the tackle is being looked at by the league and Edwards could be facing a fine:
The hip-drop tackle by #Bears LB T.J. Edwards will be reviewed for a possible fine this week. But no call on Sunday night. https://t.co/nMi2U5XMut
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 16, 2024
Mixon’s status for Week Three remains up in the air.
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