Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu has been suspended without pay for one game for repeated violations of game rules protecting the safety and health of players, the NFL announced Monday night.
Luvu suffered a hip drop tackle in Washington’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night, his third hip drop violation of the season. The Commanders veteran plans to appeal the suspension, NFL Networks insider Tom Pelissero reported. If Luva’s ban is upheld, he will receive his $508,333 game check.
“During the first inning of the Seattle-Washington game, Luvu violated Rule 12, Section 2, Rule 18(a)(b), which states: ‘It is a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground: (a) grabs the runner with one or both hands or wraps the runner by dropping both arms and dropping the hip; and/or lower body, lands on and/or pins the runner’s foot or legs at or below the knee,'” reads the the department’s statement in part.
Luvu was previously fined for Week 4 and Week 8 hip drop tackles.
Pending his appeal, Luvu will now miss the Commanders’ Week 10 game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Luvu, 29, is in his eighth NFL season and second with the Commanders. Through nine starts, he has posted 50 tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss.
News of Luva’s suspension comes on a tumultuous day for Washington, which reported that cornerback Marshon Lattimore suffered a torn ACL, wide receiver Luke McCaffrey suffered a broken collarbone and running back Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow in Sunday’s game.