Houston Texans cornerback Jaylin Smith will pay $6,223 instead of the original $7,779 fine tied to an unauthorized shoe logo visible during warmups at a preseason game against 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 against the Buffalo Bills. The penalty was Smith’s first offense. The NFL said he had a chance to fix the uniform issue, but decided a reduced fine was still appropriate.
The league lists first-time uniform violations involving socks, jerseys and undergarments at $5,971. First offenses involving unauthorized logos and intellectual-property violations can reach $11,941.
Smith might qualify for repayment under a policy the NFL Players Association announced in August. It allows players with one offense in eligible categories to receive the full fine back after the season, although those categories were not specified. The report said the warmup incident’s location on the playing surface could place it under the policy’s on-field conduct provision.
Smith would have to avoid another covered violation during the rest of the 2026 regular season, and it remains unclear whether the policy applies to this fine. The report was cited by heavy.com.