During a season in which the NFL saw the most accepted penalties through Week 4 since play-by-play data became available in 1978, per ESPN data, celebrations have resulted in an array of flags and subsequent fines.
Although the NFL and NFL Players Association released a joint statement this week clarifying that celebrations “imitating drinking a beverage” won’t be considered violations, they outlined other gestures that are prohibited and can lead to a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, fine or both.
Those are gestures that depict violence, smoking or drug use or are sexual in nature.
And on Saturday, a report from NFL insider Tom Pelissero surfaced, noting that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Quinshon Judkins have each been fined more than $14,000 by the league for a smoking gesture during a 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 4.
The NFL fined Browns QB Deshaun Watson $14,926 and RB Quinshon Judkins $14,397 for unsportsmanlike conduct (illegal celebrations and vulgar acts).
Nothing was obvious on the TV broadcast, but source said it was a “smoking” gesture after Judkins’ TD last week.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 10, 2026
The celebration occurred in the aftermath of Judkins’ go-ahead 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter at Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field.
The NFL hit Watson with a $14,926 fine and Judkins with a $14,397 fine, technically for “illegal celebrations and vulgar acts,” Pelissero reported for The Ringer and Netflix.
In his report, Pelissero wrote on X that “nothing was obvious on the TV broadcast.” Here’s the highlight the Browns clipped on social media following the short-yardage score.
Quinshon muscling it in!#PITvsCLE on @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/1DH9KmMN8D
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 2, 2026
But Camryn Justice of News 5 Cleveland WEWS provided footage of the acts in question and reported that offensive lineman Austin Barber was also fined $6,944.
According to Justice’s report, Judkins received the same fine as Watson, a $14,926 forfeiture.
Three #Browns players were fined for celebrations following Quinshon Judkins’ touchdown against the Steelers last week.
The fines were given for “Illegal celebrations and vulgar acts.”
Judkins and QB Deshaun Watson were each fined $14,926. OL Austin Barber was also fined… pic.twitter.com/BDxL6phE6R
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) October 10, 2026
In the video Justice posted, a jubilant Judkins can be seen mimicking smoking something and then handing it to Barber, who pretended to take a hit before spiking it to the ground.
Judkins repeated the simulation, putting his fingers up to his mouth before giving the fake object to Watson. The 31-year-old QB willingly accepted. Soon after, both Judkins and Watson dropped the theatrics and pumped up the raucous crowd.
From the experts at Yahoo Sports
Detroit Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown was reportedly fined four times for a smoking gesture he demonstrated during a “TNF” loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2.