DJ Wonnum just got hit with a $12,611 fine for a hip-drop tackle, and man, this new NFL rule is starting to bite hard. It’s the second week in a row a Detroit Lions player got dinged for this, after Jack Campbell took a $15,930 fine last week for the exact same infraction against the Carolina Panthers. This ain’t just about the cash, though; there’s a bigger worry brewing for players racking up these penalties.
That Hip-Drop Rule Is A Real Game-Changer (And A Money-Taker)
So, what’s the deal with this hip-drop tackle everyone’s talking about? The NFL rolled out this rule this year, and it’s one of five “major” fouls. We’re talking some serious stuff here, like a horse collar tackle, launching, a hit on a defenseless player, and a blindside block. Now, the hip-drop is right there with them. To be clear, a hip-drop tackle has three parts: the defender grabs the runner with both hands, then unweights by swiveling their body around, and finally lands on the player’s legs below the knee. Wonnum clearly did all three of those things to Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett. What’s crazy, though, is that just like Campbell’s foul last week, there wasn’t even a flag thrown on the play live. It’s almost like the league is catching these guys later with the replay.
One Fine, Two Fines, Three Strikes, You’re Out
Here’s the real kicker: this isn’t just about players losing a chunk of their paycheck. The NFL’s new rule has a serious consequence: if a player commits three offenses in *any* of these major categories during a season, they’re looking at a one-game suspension. That’s a huge deal for any team, losing a key player for a whole game. On the flip side, if a player only commits one violation in a season, they’ll get 50 percent of their fine back at the end of the year. So, for Wonnum, he’s on the board with one. Campbell is too. For the Lions, this is something they need to get a handle on, not just to save money, but to keep their roster intact. By the way, no other Lions players were fined for the Cardinals game, but Cardinals running back Elijah Higgins got hit with a $20,411 fine for using his helmet.
For Wonnum and the Lions, avoiding another “major” foul is gonna be critical going forward. You don’t want to be the player who gets suspended because of a rule that wasn’t even flagged on the field. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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