Houston Texans cornerback Jaylin Smith’s $7,779 fine has been reduced to $6,223 following an appeal, heavy.com reported. The NFL penalty stemmed from an unauthorized shoe logo displayed during warmups before a preseason matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. The logo has not been identified in the available report.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reported the decision Sept. 12, before Houston’s regular-season opener with the Buffalo Bills. The league classified the matter as Smith’s first offense and said he had an opportunity to fix the uniform issue, while determining that a reduced fine was still appropriate.
NFL guidelines set first-time uniform penalties involving socks, jerseys and undergarments at $5,971. A first violation involving unauthorized logos or intellectual property can bring a fine of as much as $11,941.
Smith might qualify to have the full amount returned under a policy the NFL Players Association announced in August. That policy allows players with one offense in eligible categories to receive reimbursement after the season, although the NFLPA did not specify those categories. Because the incident took place on the playing surface during warmups, it could fit the policy’s on-field conduct provision.
Smith would have to avoid another covered infraction during the rest of the 2026 regular season, and the policy’s application to this fine remains unclear.
