Houston Texans cornerback Jaylin Smith had his fine reduced on appeal from $7,779 to $6,223 after an unauthorized shoe logo was visible during warmups for a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Heavy.com reported the update September 12, ahead of Houston’s regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
The penalty involved a uniform violation, although the specific logo has not been identified. KPRC 2 reporter Aaron Wilson reported that the incident was Smith’s first offense and that the reduced amount could be partly returned after the season if he is not fined again during the 2026 season.
The NFL’s listed penalties vary by the type and frequency of the violation. A first uniform-related offense, including issues involving socks, jerseys or undergarments, carries a listed fine of $5,971, while a second offense is listed at $17,911. Unauthorized logos and intellectual-property violations can bring penalties of up to $11,941 for a first offense and as much as $23,882 for later offenses.
The NFL determined that Smith had an opportunity to correct the issue and that a penalty remained warranted, according to the report. The source did not identify what the logo depicted.
A policy announced by the NFL Players Association in August could affect whether Smith ultimately keeps the reduced fine. Under the change, a player with one offense in an eligible category may receive the full fine back at the end of the season.
