Frankie Luvu’s season just went from bad to worse in the span of a few days. The Washington Commanders linebacker found himself on the wrong end of the NFL’s crackdown on hip-drop tackles, and this time, the league wasn’t messing around with just another fine.
It started Saturday when the NFL hit Luvu with a $46,372 penalty for hip-dropping Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray. But if anyone thought that was the end of the story, they were dead wrong. Word quickly spread that Luvu was staring down a one-game suspension for piling up multiple player safety violations throughout the season.
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Monday made it official. The league announced Luvu would be suspended without pay after his third hip-drop tackle of the year, which came during Washington’s brutal loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
“Commanders LB Frankie Luvu has been suspended without pay for one game for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during Sunday’s game against the Seattle,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared. “This is Luvu’s third hip-drop tackle of the season. He was previously fined for actions in Week 4 and Week 8.”
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https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1985505602743730533
The play in question happened early Sunday when Luvu twisted down Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba after a catch. No flag flew during the game, but the NFL was clearly watching.
Here’s the hip-drop tackle Monday night that got Commanders LB Frankie Luvu suspended as a result of cumulative violations. He’s wearing No. 4. pic.twitter.com/gEIzjdpJEu
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 4, 2025
The league started zeroing in on hip-drop tackles back in 2023 after discovering the technique caused injuries at a rate 25 times higher than normal tackles. That alarming data led owners to outright ban the move in March 2024.
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Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) tackles Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) during the first half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
If Luvu’s appeal falls flat, he’ll miss Washington’s showdown with the Lions. And honestly, Sunday was already a disaster for the Commanders beyond just Luvu’s situation. The team dropped to 3-6, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow, Luke McCaffrey broke his collarbone, and Marshon Lattimore tore his ACL.
When it rains in Washington, it apparently pours injuries and suspensions.
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