Earlier this week, star running back Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second quarter of the Cleveland Browns’ matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.
But while the ESPN/ABC broadcast opted not to show replays of the play due to the gruesome nature of the injury, many who did re-watch it have questioned whether the tackle made by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick that caused the injury was a dirty one.
On the play, Chubb took a carry from the Pittsburgh 8-yard line and ran the ball for three yards before being wrapped up by Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb. At the same time, Fitzpatrick could be seen colliding with the 4-time Pro Bowl running back’s knee, which ultimately resulted in the season-ending injury.
Whether the play was “dirty” or just “football” is a matter of perspective, and in some cases, fan allegiances. Pro Football Talk‘s Mike Florio has noted that based on the NFL’s rule book, Fitzpatrick’s hit was, in fact, clean, but also questioned whether that should be the case.
“It is perfectly legal,” Florio wrote of the play. “Ball carriers can be hit any which way the defender chooses, as long as the defender does not lower his helmet and make forcible contact with it.
“Fitzpatrick did not do that. He made a legal tackle. But should that tackle be legal?”
Still, many others have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the matter. And while some believe that the hit was clean with an unfortunate result, others claim that it was a dirty play.
[Pro Football Talk]
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.