The NFL is making Eagles safety Reed Blankenship pony up some big money after the team’s most recent game.
The league fined Blankenship $10,250 for an illegal hip-drop tackle on Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai during Philadelphia’s 24–20 loss at Lincoln Financial Field Week 13. The play occurred early in the first quarter and wasn’t flagged, but it was later cited in the NFL’s league discipline report for unnecessary roughness tied to the hip-drop mechanism.
“A hip-drop tackle occurs when a defender wraps up a ball carrier and rotates or swivels his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto ball carrier’s legs during the tackle,” the league office notes on its official website.
“The NFL analyzed more than 20,000 tackles over the past two seasons and determined that this specific technique causes lower extremity injuries at a rate 20 times higher than other tackles, resulting in an unacceptable risk to player health and safety.”
More on Eagles Safety Reed Blankenship’s Hip-Drop Tackle Fine vs. Chicago Bears
GettyPhiladelphia Eagles free safety Reed Blankenship was fined over $10,000 for an illegal tackle vs. the Chicago Bears.
The play Blankenship was fined for came on a 2nd-and-medium run as Monangai cut left. Blankenship ran downhill and squared him up near the numbers, but as Monangai churned through contact, the Eagles safety spun around, latched high on the rookie RBs waist and dropped his weight behind the rook’s legs.
Monangai finished the game, but appeared on the Bears’ early-week injury report with ankle soreness. The NFL has been aggressive when it comes to enforcing that particular tackle this season, levying more than a dozen similar fines by early December.
In October, Blankenship drew an unnecessary roughness flag for a high hit on Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, but that play didn’t lead to a fine.
Now, after shelling out 10 grand, Blankenship may want to modify his tackling style just. a bit.
Blankenship’s Future in Philly Remains in Question After 2025 Season
Blankenship started 15 games during the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl run, finishing with 78 tackles and four interceptions, including a pivotal red zone pick in the NFC Championship Game.
In 2025, he has again been a near-every-down presence, but he’s having a rougher go. Through Week 13, Blankenship has 64 tackles, four pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble, all while battling a lingering thigh issue.
A leader in the secondary, he has been a solid mentor to the team’s younger players, including rookie Andrew Mukuba. But Blankenship has been worse in the passing game this year than he was in 2024. Per PFF, he has allowed three TDs in coverage, after giving up just one all of last year. Opposing QBs are netting a collective 115.6 passer rating when targeting him, the worst mark of his four-year career, and his 30.1 coverage grade is ranked 94th out of 95 qualifying safeties.
So, what are the odds that the Eagles re-sign Blankenship when he hits unrestricted free agency in the spring?
Fairly strong, but far from guaranteed. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio trusts him, and his teammates love him. But much will depend on Blankenship’s market. He’s not a star, but he’s clearly a reliable starter with playoff experience. If a safety-needy team offers him a multi-year deal in the $7-9 million APY neighborhood, Philadelphia may bow out. They may also overpay to keep him around. It’s really one of the most intriguing decisions GM Howie Roseman and company will have to make next offseason.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Eagles Starter Punished By NFL for Play That Injured Bears RB appeared first on Heavy Sports.