Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was fined a total of $35,513 for three infractions in Monday night’s loss 26-22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers — unsportsmanlike conduct and two unnecessary roughness violations, the league announced on Saturday.
Watson was fined $13,659 for unsportsmanlike conduct and $10,927 twice for two separate unnecessary roughness penalties. The two unnecessary roughness penalties were both facemask violations, while the unsportsmanlike conduct was for a gun-themed celebration in the third quarter after Cleveland scored a touchdown. Browns tight end David Njoku, who was seen doing the same celebration with Watson, was also fined $13,659 by the league for unsportsmanlike conduct, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported.
Here’s the “violent gesture” that led to one of Deshaun Watson’s three fines from Monday night.
Watson and David Njoku were each fined $13,659 for the gun-themed celebration after a #Browns TD. Watson was fined $35,513 total, including two fines for unnecessary roughness. pic.twitter.com/bYgU7D3kVY
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 23, 2023
Deshaun Watson appeared to make contact with an official after jawing with numerous players on the Steelers sideline in the third quarter, but the NFL on Tuesday announced that the contact did not require discipline.
“Officials are called upon to maintain order on the field, and sometimes while performing those duties, there is inadvertent contact between players and officials,” the league said in a statement on Tuesday. “In this instance, in their judgment, the contact did not rise to the level of a foul.”
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was fined $48,333 for illegal use of helmet against the Browns, according to the NFL’s gameday accountability weekly update. Four other Steelers players also received fines — linebackers Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts were each fined $43,709 for unnecessary roughness. Safety Damontae Kazee was fined $11,806 for unnecessary roughness, while DeMarvin Leal was fined $6,549 for the same violation. In total, Steelers players were fined $154,106 in the win against the Browns.
Warren lowered his helmet and hit Browns free safety Juan Thornhill at the end of a 30-yard catch-and-run early in the second quarter Monday night. The play didn’t draw a flag in the game. Warren’s agent David Canter posted on X that they planned to appeal the fine. Warren has a base salary of $870,000 this season.
The NFL fined #Steelers RB Jaylen Warren $48,333 for illegal use of helmet in last week’s win over the #Browns.
Here’s the play … which didn’t draw a flag. pic.twitter.com/DA2f35G9tx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 23, 2023
During the preseason, Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander was fined $43,709 for lowering his helmet against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Chase Edmunds in a preseason game, but he appealed the fine and it was rescinded.
Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was not fined for his tackle on Browns running back Nick Chubb that resulted in a season-ending knee injury.