During the first quarter of Week 9’s Seattle Seahawks’ matchup against the Washington Commanders, Frankie Luvu violated Rule 12, Section 2, Article 18 (a) (b) due to a hip-drop tackle.
This is his third infraction of that specific kind of tackle this year — previously fined in Weeks 4 and 8 — the NFL has now officially unveiled another sanction for Luvu.
NFL Reveals Punishment for Frankie Luvu
Per reports, Luvu has been suspended without pay for one game for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during the most recent contest against the Seattle franchise.
Luvu will not be eligible to return to the Commanders’ active roster until Monday, Nov. 10, following Washington’s game against the Detroit Lions. Brian McCarthy of the NFL office posted the initial report on the evening of Nov. 3.
New from @nfl345. pic.twitter.com/uNSxcUN3dN
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) November 4, 2025
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Luvu has the right to appeal his suspension.
The previously referenced rule he violated reads, “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 with both arms; and (b) 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.”
The suspension was given for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.
Luvu has posted 487 total tackles across 114 games played in his career so far. The Washington State alum has also tallied seven forced fumbles and two interceptions.
While at Washington State, Luvu played in 26 games in his final two seasons. He recorded 48 total tackles with 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks with two interceptions in his senior season. He ranked eighth in the Pac-12 in tackles for loss and posted 46 tackles and 1.5 sacks his junior year.
The Commanders signed the linebacker in March of 2024. Luvu entered the league as as undrafted free agent in 2018 with the New York Jets. Based on PFSN’s Defense Impact, Washington currently has the 24th-ranked defense in the league.
He was originally fined $23,186 for a hip-drop tackle in Week 4 against the Falcons and $46,372 for a hip-drop tackle last Monday night against the Chiefs. His most recent suspension came as a result of his hip-drop tackle in the first quarter. The Commanders went on to lose to the Seahawks — 38-14.
Any appeal would be determined by Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, or Jordy Nelson, the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and the NFLPA to handle appeals of on-field discipline.
