Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon hasn't played since Week 2 after suffering an ankle injury when he was taken down by Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards using the prohibited hip-drop tackle.
On Thursday, Mixon practiced for the first time in nearly two weeks in hopes of returning to action for the team's Week 6 contest against the New England Patriots. For the second time since suffering the injury, the former Pro Bowler blasted the NFL for what he perceives is a lack of enforcement on the illegal move.
"I was the No. 1 leader in rushing. I was stopped because of that weak-a-- hip-drop tackle," Mixon said, according to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime. "I can't do nothing about that. It's frustrating, it is what it is. I want to be out there more than anybody."
The NFL approved a rule proposal in March to ban the swivel hip-drop tackle, which has caused mainly lower leg injuries in recent years.
After being traded from the Cincinnati Bengals in March, Mixon opened his Texans career in style, recording 30 rushing attempts for 159 yards and a touchdown in Houston's Week 1 win against the Indianapolis Colts. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
Mixon was limited to nine carries for 25 scoreless yards and played just 29 snaps in the Houston's 19-13 "Sunday Night Football" win against the Chicago Bears in Week 2, however.
Edwards wasn't penalized on the tackle of Mixon and was fined $16,883, while, per Bien-Aime's report, "other players have been fined more for appearing to protect themselves."
"You got guys out here protecting themselves from hits and they are getting fined $45,000 and $50,000," the 2017 second-round pick said, according to the report. "And for an illegal hip drop tackle they're getting fined $16,000 when it's supposed to be an emphasis, it's supposed to be taken out of the game. So obviously the priorities ain't right with what's going on. It is frustrating to see, but it is what it is. If we're going to talk about playing the game the right way, we got to have integrity for the game when it comes to it."
Bien-Aime cited numerous examples backing up Mixon's argument, including the situation of Texans teammate Nico Collins. The wideout was fined $22,511 for unnecessary roughness and impermissible use of helmet for dipping his helmet and colliding with Jacksonville Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson in Week 4.
