Giants' Darius Muasau fined for tackle that injured Vikings' Jordan Addison

The NFL fined Muasau $4,696 for the hip-drop tackle.

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53) reacts after an interception against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sept. 8, 2024. / John Jones-Imagn Images

The NFL fined New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau $4,696 for his hip-drop tackle of Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison in the third quarter of their Week 1 matchup. Addison was injured on the play, and he has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson was also fined $9,804 for unnecessary roughness for a hip-drop tackle in the second quarter of the game. Neither Jackson nor Muasau's tackles were flagged.

This is the first season in which the hip-drop tackle has been banned. Hip-drop tackles are defined by the league as occurring "when a defender wraps up a ball carrier and rotates or swivels his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto the ball carrier's legs during the tackle." They were banned as the NFL determined they cause lower extremity injuries at a rate 20 times higher than other tackles.

When called, hip-drop tackles result in a 15-yard penalty.

Muasau's hip-drop tackle of Addison occurred at 14:33 of the third quarter. Addison's legs appeared to get caught under Muasau, and he reinjured the ankle that bothered him during the preseason.

The NFL fined #Giants LB Darius Muasau $4,696 for unnecessary roughness — a hip-drop tackle that injured #Vikings WR Jordan Addison last week. pic.twitter.com/qERoQozMAG

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 14, 2024

Jackson was fined for a hip-drop tackle of Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt with 1 minute, 3 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The play was mundane enough, but it appears the league deemed it a hip-drop tackle. Both fines were listed for the reason of "unnecessary roughness."

Adoree' Jackson was fined $9,804 for "unnecessary roughness" on this tackle. He wasn't penalized in the game. Have to assume this was deemed a hip drop tackle. pic.twitter.com/flzi8RSVRl

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) September 14, 2024

No Vikings players were fined for any reason in Week 1.