The NFL reduced Houston Texans cornerback Jaylin Smith’s fine from $7,779 to $6,223 following an appeal, according to a report cited by heavy.com. The penalty stemmed from an unauthorized shoe logo seen while Smith warmed up before a preseason matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. The logo’s identity has not been reported.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reported the decision Sept. 12, before Houston’s regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills. The league classified the matter as Smith’s first offense and said he had an opportunity to fix the uniform issue, but determined that a smaller fine was still appropriate.
First offenses involving uniform items such as jerseys, socks and undergarments are listed at $5,971, while unauthorized logos and intellectual-property violations can result in fines of up to $11,941.
A policy the NFL Players Association announced in August could make Smith eligible to recover the full amount at season’s end if he has one offense in an eligible category. The NFLPA did not specify those categories. Since the incident took place on the playing surface during warmups, the report said it could qualify as on-field conduct.
Smith would have to avoid another applicable violation through the rest of the 2026 regular season, although the policy’s application to this fine remains unclear.
