Inside The Vikings

Did uncalled hip-drop tackle injure Vikings' J.J. McCarthy?

The Vikings believe McCarthy was injured during a third-quarter scramble in Sunday night's loss against the Falcons.
Will Ragatz|
Sep 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Sep 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

In this story:

Minnesota Vikings

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a high-ankle sprain in Sunday night's loss to the Falcons. He will miss at least one game — and it'll likely be a multi-week absence, according to reports. After largely struggling in the first two games of his career, the 22-year-old will now briefly have his development stalled. Kevin O'Connell said he was crushed to learn the news on Monday morning.

The play where it happened, per O'Connell, was a 2nd and 20 late in the third quarter. McCarthy wound up scrambling for 16 yards, but at the end of the play, he had his right ankle rolled up on by Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss. The footage arguably appears to show Ellis making an illegal hip-drop tackle, which went unpenalized in the moment.

The hip-drop tackle was banned by the NFL in 2024 due to how frequently it led to lower-body injuries in the players being tackled.

According to the league's definition, the violation occurs when a defender "grabs the runner with one or both hands or wraps the runner with both arms" and "unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and/or trapping the runner's leg(s) at or below the knee."

If called, the penalty is 15 yards and an automatic first down.

No flag was thrown in this instance, but a case can be made that the officials missed it. Elliss wrapped up McCarthy at the waist and dropped his lower body to the ground as he did so, which resulted in him rolling up on the Vikings' QB. Whether or not the play fully meets the criteria of a hip-drop tackle is open to interpretation. The team plans to send the clip in to the NFL for review, according to Ben Goessling.

McCarthy remained in the game after the play. Following a delay of game flag, he threw a ball that was too low for an open Justin Jefferson on third down — a throw that may or may not have been impacted by the previous play. On that play, he had his left foot inadvertently stepped on by teammate Will Fries.

After the series, the NBC broadcast showed McCarthy getting that foot taped up on the sideline. He played the rest of the way, but O'Connell said McCarthy then came into the facility on Monday morning reporting major soreness in his ankle, which led to further evaluation.

J.J. McCarthy getting his left foot taped up on the sideline.
J.J. McCarthy getting his left foot taped up on the sideline. | NFL, NBC

Carson Wentz will now take over as the Vikings' quarterback for at least one week.

More Vikings coverage

Published | Modified
Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

Share on XFollow WillRagatz
Home/News