The Buffalo Bills are looking to bounce back from defeat last week with a win against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, but an already banged-up offense lost another player due to injury
20:46 ET, 13 Oct 2025Updated 20:46 ET, 13 Oct 2025
NFL fans questioned why Dee Alford's tackle on Jordan Palmer - which injured the Bills receiver - wasn't flagged
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NFL fans questioned why Dee Alford's tackle on Jordan Palmer - which injured the Bills receiver - wasn't flagged(Image: Getty Images)
Fans flocked to social media after NFL officials failed to call the banned hip-drop tackle that injured Buffalo Bills receiver Josh Palmer.
The Bills are facing the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. Both teams started the game hot offensively, with Tyler Allegeier giving the Falcons the lead before Josh Allen threw a touchdown to tight end Dawson Knox, despite missing Dalton Kincaid.
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The Falcons responded in style; Michael Penix Jr. connected with Drake London for the go-ahead score. Early in the second quarter, Buffalo was driving downfield to try and tie the game when the beat-up Bills suffered another injury.
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Palmer played four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, but signed a three-year deal with the Bills. He has carved out a solid role for himself, entering the game with 174 yards through five games for the 4-1 Bills.
The 26-year-old got off to a good start against the Falcons. He hauled in a 45-yard bomb from Allen, then brilliantly broke away on a crossing route for 15 yards — but the way he was tackled left him writhing around in pain on the turf.
Falcons corner Dee Alford appeared to use a hip-drop tackle to bring down Palmer inside Atlanta territory. Back in the 2024 offseason, NFL owners voted unanimously to remove the hip-drop tackle from the game in order to avoid injuries like Mark Andrews suffered.
Any use of the outlawed tackle was set to result in a 15-yard penalty if flagged in games, although the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent, suggested it could lead to warning letters and fines following the game rather than be made a flaggable offense. However, nothing was called as Palmer went down in agony.
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Josh Palmer appeared to be the Bills' best offensive weapon early against the Falcons
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Josh Palmer appeared to be the Bills' best offensive weapon early against the Falcons(Image: Getty Images)
Fans were furious. “Hey @NFL Do referees no longer call Hip Drop Tackle penalties???” wrote one fan.
“Why doesn’t the NFL enforce the hip drop tackle rule?” added another. Another typed out: “Have they ever called a hip drop penalty since they implemented the new rule? That was a clear one on the Falcons that resulted in an injury. Why have rules if you’re not going to enforce them???”
“Obvious personal foul hip drop against ATL? No call,” another fan wrote. One Buffalo fan was particularly furious: “Palmer gets hurt on a hip drop and of course no call. These refs are hot garbage. Two weeks in a row we’re up against it.”
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Palmer went into the blue medical tent with an injured ankle. It’s unclear what the injury is exactly, although the nature of the tackle seemed to suggest a dorsiflexion eversion stress on the left ankle, which would be a high-ankle sprain.
He has not yet been ruled out and could return, although it depends on swelling. Palmer was pacing up and down the sideline, raring to get back onto the field.
Later in the second quarter, Bijan Robinson scored on a sensational 81-yard burst to give the Falcons a 21-7 lead.