It was the tackle that broke the camel’s back.
Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu was suspended one game without pay following “repeated violations of playing rules that protect the safety and health of players,” the NFL announced in a statement Monday evening.
Luvu, 29, committed his third hip-drop tackle of the season during the first quarter of Washington’s 38-14 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks on “Sunday Night Football.”
The Washington State product, wearing No. 4, can be seen leaping toward Jaxon Smith-Njigba, wrapping the Seattle wideout with both arms, and dropping his hips to bring the runner to the ground — violating the NFL’s Rule 12, Section 2, Article 18.
Luvu had previously been fined for the same infringement in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons and Week 8 against the Chicago Bears.
The eight-year NFL vet, who has tallied 50 tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss in his second season with Washington, intends to appeal the suspension, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
If his suspension is upheld, Luvu will forfeit his $508,333 game check and miss the Commanders’ Week 10 home matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Washington (3-6) will already be severely undermanned for this NFC divisional round rematch after getting ravaged by injuries against Seattle.
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore tore his ACL, wide receiver Luke McCaffery broke his collarbone and star quarterback Jayden Daniels took a horrific fall that resulted in a dislocated elbow.
They all hit the sidelines alongside two-time Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin, who has played just four games this season due to a quad injury and is expected to miss Sunday’s matchup.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
