Houston Texans cornerback Jaylin Smith had his fine reduced after an appeal ahead of the team's regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills. The second-year player, who was selected in the third round of the draft, was initially fined $7,779 and will now owe $6,223, according to a report from KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson on Sept. 12.
The penalty stemmed from an unauthorized shoe logo that was visible during warmups at a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The specific logo has not been identified in the information provided. The violation was Smith's first offense, and the league determined that a fine remained appropriate after the appeal.
NFL fine schedules list penalties of $5,971 for a first uniform violation and $17,911 for a second offense involving items such as socks, jerseys or undergarments. Unauthorized logos and intellectual-property violations can carry penalties of up to $11,941 for a first offense and $23,882 for later offenses.
A policy announced by the NFL Players Association in August could affect the final cost to Smith. Under the change, a player with one offense in an eligible category can receive the full fine back at the end of the season. The announcement did not identify which categories qualify.
If Smith avoids another applicable violation during the rest of the 2026 regular season, he could be eligible to have the $6,223 returned after the season. Further details about the policy's eligible categories were not provided.
