Indianapolis Colts running back Salvon Ahmed suffered a severe injury to his right leg during training camp, when he was tackled from behind by undrafted safety Trey Washington using an illegal hip‑drop technique, which has been banned due to its history of causing serious lower-body injuries .
The incident occurred during a “live” period of practice—typically reserved for third-string or fringe players—when physical contact and tackling are authorized. Ahmed took a handoff, broke free, and was chased down before being brought down with the illegal tackle just after crossing the goal line .
Upon impact, Ahmed screamed in pain and immediate medical attention followed. Trainers quickly placed his leg in an air cast, and he was carried off the field on a stretcher before being transported to a hospital for X-ray evaluation .
Colts head coach Shane Steichen acknowledged the gravity of the incident, emphasizing that hip‑drop tackles are discouraged—even in training. He described Trey Washington as visibly shaken and insisted the move was a mistake while underlining its outlawed status .
Backup linebacker Zaire Franklin, a veteran of the team, spoke emotionally about the moment, noting the team briefly paused practice before continuing with a 2-minute situational drill. Franklin stressed the team’s focus on pushing forward despite the severity of the situation .
Ahmed, who previously spent four seasons with the Dolphins and joined the Colts in early 2025, had been competing for a depth role behind main back Jonathan Taylor. With his roster spot now jeopardized, his recovery timeline remains unclear .
