Brandon Meriweather has said that the NFL's current rules on tackling mean that defensive players have to make hits that can cause career-threatening injuries.

The Washington Redskins safety was handed a two-game suspension, which was halved on appeal, for an illegal hit to the helmet against the Chicago Bears last week.

The 29-year-old told the Washington Times: "To be honest, man, you've just got to go low now, man.

"You've got to end people's careers, you know? You've got to tear people's ACLs and mess up people's knees now. You can't hit them high no more. You've just got to go low."

Meriweather has 27 tackles and a forced fumble so far this season.