The Buffalo Bills scored a big win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but it could be costly for one of the team’s top rookies.
Cornerback Maxwell Hairston made what appeared to be a hip-drop tackle on a play that left Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins injured after he hit the turf hard and struck his head. Though Hairston wasn’t flagged on the play, he could face a fine when the NFL announces punishments on Saturday afternoon.
Maxwell Hairston Could Land in Hot Water
Hairston’s tackle came with the Bills trailing 21-18 in the fourth quarter and the Bengals driving. After Higgins caught a pass for a first down, Hairston appeared to use his body weight to bring Higgins to the ground.
As USA Today noted in a 2023 article outlining why the NFL was banning the hip-drop tackle, Hairston’s actions seemed to fit the league’s definition.
“In a hip-drop tackle, the defensive player approaches from behind or the side, wraps his arms around the offensive player and becomes dead weight while dropping to the ground,” the report noted, describing the actions Hairston took on his tackle. “Often, the defensive player’s body lands on the offensive player’s legs. According to NFL executive Jeff Miller, it poses a 25-times higher risk of injury than a normal tackle.”
The Bills have been victims of the now-banned tackle this year as well, with wide receiver Joshua Palmer suffering an injury from a hip-drop tackle against the Atlanta Falcons.
Maxwell Hairston Could Take on Big Role
Hairston could be in line to take on a big role in Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. Starting cornerback Christian Benford suffered an injury in practice this week, hurting his toe and needing a walking boot. He was listed as questionable for the game, and Hairston said he would be ready to step in if Benford is unable to play.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Hairston has been growing since missing most of training camp and the first half of the season with a knee injury.
âYou go back to the beginning [of the season] where he missed quite a bit of time, so weâre still playing catch up a little bit,â McDermott said. âItâs also important that he grows for us as well and learns along the way, and thatâs part of the growth process there.â
Benford has come up with some big moments, including a late interception of Patrick Mahomes in the team’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs. But Benford has been on a tear as well, scoring defensive touchdowns in each of the team’s last two weeks.
That included a game-turning interception on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow where he took the ball from Burrow’s hands on a cornerback blitz and returned it for the go-ahead touchdown.
The Bills did get a positive sign on Benford as the week came to a close. While he did not participate in practice on Friday, Benford was seen walking normally without the boot.
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