Chris Godwin’s season ended abruptly Monday night, as the receiver suffered a dislocated ankle against the Ravens. It was announced Wednesday that Godwin will soon undergo ankle surgery. Tampa Bay placed him on season-ending injured reserve the same day.

While Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles was criticized for leaving Godwin during an eruptionthe NFL is more interested in the specific play that injured Godwin. Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith tackled Godwin’s lower body during the play, causing the wide receiver to be carried off the field.

ESPN quickly opted not to show a replay of the injury. Video can be found here.

After the game, the NFL analyzed the play to see if Smith used a hip tackle technique, which the league banned during the offseason.

NFL HQ: NFL Live Scores | Updated NFL Rankings | Complete NFL Schedule

Chris Godwin hip-drop tackle explained

After reviewing the injury, the NFL determined that Roquan Smith did indeed violate the rules by using a hip tackle on Godwin on Monday night. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. Therefore, the league should fine Smith $16,883 for illegal gambling.

This is Smith’s first violation of the rule and he can appeal the fine.

“I never participate in a match with the aim of injuring a player” Smith said Thursday. “I want every player to return home safe to their family – maybe a little sore.”

During the offseason, the NFL banned the hip-drop because the league argued that players are 20 times more likely to suffer a lower body injury as a result of the play. NFL defines hip-drop tackle such as when a defender “wraps around a ball carrier and rotates or rotates his hips, relieving himself and falling onto the ball carrier’s legs during the tackle.”

MORE: What is a hip-drop tackle? Explaining the NFL’s decision to ban controversial defensive play

Frequency of hip-drop tackles

While the NFL has attempted to eliminate these tackles from the game, the league hasn’t exactly been successful in its quest. So far this season, there have been at least nine documented instances of hip tackles, according to Jones, but none of those plays resulted in a penalty during the game.

When analyzing hip tackles last season, the NFL determined that 15 players were forced to miss time after a defender tackled them using the technique. This type of tackling can lead to a variety of lower body injuries, ranging from ankle sprains to ankle dislocations, like Godwin’s.

The Ravens are no strangers to this technique, as tight end Mark Andrews suffered a sprained ankle. a similar piece last year. Additionally, the The NFLPA was strongly opposed to the rule change in the offseason.