NFL Says Tush Push Injury Rate Is 0% amid Packers' Proposal to Ban Eagles Play

Detractors of the Tush Push quarterback sneak—which includes the Green Bay Packers, who have proposed banning the play—have often cited injury concerns as a criticism of the play.

The data doesn't back up that argument, however.

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, "The league's internal data on the Tush Push revealed there was a zero percent injury rate [on the play]. There's concern over the 'potential' for injury, but to date, there have been no reported injuries from that play."

This isn't the first time the Tush Push has been a point of controversy, but to this point the league has not outlawed it. That has largely been on the grounds that there isn't demonstrable proof the play poses an injury risk, and that teams who run it well shouldn't be punished for doing something efficiently while the rest of the league struggles to replicate that success.

Nonetheless, the play continues to divide opinion, with a number of coaches and general managers weighing in during the NFL Scouting Combine this week.

Andy Reid said on PFT Live that if the Chiefs "could do [the Tush Push] effectively, I'd probably do it," but also cited wear-and-tear concerns based on Jason Kelce's previous comments on the play.

"That's how I feel, but these committees take care of all this injury stuff," he said. "You hear Jason Kelce coming out—he said it when he was playing, he said it when he's retired. And I got a lot of trust in that kid, he's tougher than shoe leather. He's out there going, 'This is a great play, but it kills me. As a center, I was getting destroyed.' ... That in itself is an alarm that you gotta look at."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles offered a similar sentiment.

"The safety of it is always going to be a question because it's a rugby-style play, but I have nothing against it," he told PFT Live (h/t Tim Capurso of SI.com). "You found guys that are being creative and found the niche and how to gain an edge in this league and that's what we as coaches try to do on a daily basis. Now it's up to defensive coaches to try to gain an edge to try to stop it. That's the challenge of it every time someone brings something new, whether it's offense or defense. I'm all for it that way."

And Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio told reporters that the league shouldn't "penalize a team that's done something very well" in regards to the Eagles running the Tush Push.

According to ESPN Research, "The Eagles and Buffalo Bills have scored a touchdown or achieved a first down on 87 percent of their attempts using the play, while the rest of the NFL has been successful on just 71 percent."

Nonetheless, detractors remain. Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is among them.

"It should've been illegal three years ago," he told reporters. "No, the Tush Push play, I've never been a big fan. There's no other play in our game where you can absolutely get behind somebody and push them, pull them off, do anything."

To ban the play outright, 24 teams would need to vote against it (if Green Bay's proposal even reaches a vote). To this point, the Tush Push has survived its critics, but it's yet again under fire this offseason.