The league office has officially cracked the whip on America’s Team. On Saturday, the NFL revealed its latest disciplinary enforcement report from Week 4, dropping heavy financial fines on a pair of Dallas Cowboys contributors following their fiery matchup against the Houston Texans.
Cornerback Reddy Steward and Pro Bowl kick returner KaVontae Turpin both found themselves in the league’s crosshairs. Steward was slapped with a $5,583 fine for unnecessary roughness after delivering a brutal hit on a defenseless player during a third-quarter touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins. The league officially classified Steward’s hit as a “major foul”—placing him among a league-wide season-high total of 10 players cited for high-severity safety infractions in a single week.
Unflagged Taunt Costs Turpin Nearly $12,000
While Steward was penalized on the field during the play, return specialist KaVontae Turpin learned that game officials aren’t the only ones watching. On the very next play following Houston’s score, Turpin ripped off a electric 32-yard kickoff return to set Dallas up with elite field position.
Although game referees did not throw a flag during live action, the NFL’s post-game review board determined that Turpin engaged in unsportsmanlike conduct via taunting. As a result, Turpin was docked a massive $11,941 fine.
Unless both players launch successful appeals, their forfeited game checks will be divided between the Professional Athletes Foundation—which aids former NFL players—and the NFL Foundation, which funds youth sports health and safety initiatives.
Seven Cowboys Cited: How Jake Ferguson Escaped a $13,611 Penalty
With Steward and Turpin added to the docket, a staggering seven Cowboys players have now faced disciplinary citations through the opening month of the 2026 campaign. However, not every star in Arlington is paying up.
Tight end Jake Ferguson successfully scored a major off-field victory over league brass after overturning a $13,611 fine stemming from Week 2 against the Washington Commanders. The NFL initially claimed Ferguson engaged in a vulgar act by simulating shotgunning a beer during a touchdown celebration.
Working alongside ESPN’s Adam Schefter and the NFLPA, Ferguson successfully proved that his gesture was actually a lighthearted “Gatorade celebration” he had repeatedly performed during open practice sessions, as documented on the team’s official social media channels.
NFL Forced into Embarrassing Policy U-Turn
Ferguson wasn’t the only player to overturn a drinking-related fine. San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Indianapolis Colts guard Matt Goncalves also had similar fines completely rescinded upon appeal.
Critics and fans widely mocked the league’s initial crackdown as peak hypocrisy, given that official league sponsors include major beer brands like Bud Light. Facing mounting backlash, the NFL and NFL Players Association formally agreed that drinking-style celebrations are fully acceptable moving forward—officially ending the controversial fine spree.
