Indianapolis Colts running back Salvon Ahmed suffered what coach Shane Steichen described as ‘a severe leg injury’ after being hip-drop tackled by rookie safety Trey Washington at training camp practice Sunday.
Ahmed’s injury occurred on a play where the running back bounced a carry to the outside and had a path to the end-zone, according to the The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network. The 26-year-old appeared as though he would score before Washington tackled him from behind, causing the six-year veteran’s right leg to bend awkwardly.
Practice came to a stop as Indianapolis’ medical staff treated Ahmed. The entire team circled around him before he was immobilized and carted off the field with an air cast on his injured right leg.
Meanwhile, Washington was ‘visibly upset’ after his tackle injured Ahmed. The undrafted rookie from Ole Miss had to be consoled by his teammates.
‘Never want to see that happen,’ Steichen said about Ahmed’s injury after practice. “We don’t encourage hip-drop tackles. I know Trey’s down in the dumps, and I don’t think he’s trying to do that. We’re just trying to create an edge, is what I’m trying to get done, especially in the developmental.’
The ‘developmental’ portion of practice to which Steichen is referring is when Ahmed was hurt. The session allows players lower on the depth chart to get time on the field. On Sunday, it was ‘live,’ meaning tackling was allowed.
The reason the Colts were allowing tackling during that portion of practice?
‘Those guys are gonna have to tackle come preseason,’ Steichen explained.
‘I think training camp is where you want to create the edge and the toughness and the identity of your football team, so you have live periods,’ he later added.
Hip-drop tackles were banned by the NFL ahead of its 2024 season. At the time, Rich McKay, chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, called it the cousin of the horse-collar tackle, while NFL executive Jeff Miller said the maneuver poses a 25-times higher risk of injury than a normal tackle.
In total, just one hip-drop tackle was penalized with an in-game flag during the 2024 NFL season, though many players were fined retroactively for performing the maneuver.
And as Steichen pointed out, it isn’t always easy for players to avoid hip-drop tackles when they are instinctively trying to make a stop.
‘He’s chasing him down right there trying to make a play before he scores,’ Steichen said of Washington’s tackle. ‘I’m sure he obviously didn’t mean to do it.’
‘Injuries happen in football,’ he added. ‘It’s a very unfortunate situation for Salvon, but like I said, thoughts and prayers with him and our team will support him.’
