NFL Clears Ravens' Roquan Smith in Tackle Probe

No fine was issued for Roquan Smith's hip-drop tackle that tore Bengals tight end Erick All Jr.'s ACL in Baltimore's 34-20 win.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Football

NFL Clears Ravens' Roquan Smith in Tackle Probe

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The NFL did not fine Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith for a hip-drop tackle of Cincinnati Bengals tight end Erick All Jr. during Week 7 at M&T Bank Stadium. The league announced no fines from the Bengals-Ravens game, which the Ravens won 34-20.

Why it matters

The decision means no league discipline attaches to a play that left a starting-level tight end with a torn ACL. Hip-drop tackles have drawn scrutiny for their risk to knees, and the outcome leaves the play's legality without an NFL penalty.

The Ravens won 34-20 in Week 7 at M&T Bank Stadium. The league announced no fines from the game, though the reasoning behind the decision was not disclosed.

The players

Roquan Smith

Roquan Smith is a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens who was involved in the hip-drop tackle that injured Erick All Jr. and was himself injured later in the game.

Erick All Jr.

Erick All Jr. is a tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals whose ACL was torn on the tackle and who was placed on the Reserve/Injured list.

Zac Taylor

Zac Taylor is the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals who confirmed the severity of Erick All Jr.'s knee injury.

The details

Roquan Smith tackled Erick All Jr. with a hip-drop tackle on a third-quarter play, and All Jr. suffered a knee injury on the tackle. Smith himself was injured during the fourth quarter.

October 27, 2026: Bengals placed Erick All Jr. on the Reserve/Injured list and signed Cam Grandy off Minnesota's practice squad.
October 28, 2026: Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed All Jr. tore his ACL.
Week 7, 2026: The Bengals and Ravens played at M&T Bank Stadium, where the tackle occurred.

Season Trajectory

The NFL's review of on-field tackles has repeatedly weighed player safety against playing style, and this no-fine outcome places the Ravens' defensive approach within that ongoing debate. For Cincinnati, losing a tight end to an ACL tear reshapes its depth chart during a Week 7 stretch in which the team was already trailing the playoff race.

Fantasy managers rostering Erick All Jr. will need to replace his production, as he is now on the Reserve/Injured list. Smith remains available on the Ravens' defense, though his own in-game injury status should be monitored.

The takeaway

Rules on hip-drop tackles remain a live question, since a play can end a player's season without triggering league discipline. Fans and fantasy players should watch how the league handles similar plays in future weeks.