Watson and Judkins Fined Over $14K for the Smoking Celebration Against Pittsburgh

The NFL fined Deshaun Watson and Quinshon Judkins a combined total exceeding $14,000 for a celebratory smoking gesture following a touchdown in the win over Pittsburgh. The league treats those kinds of demonstrations as unsportsmanlike, and the fines landed accordingly.

It's worth noting the context: a win over Pittsburgh is a genuine thing for this team right now, and the moment clearly meant something to both players. Watson has been working his way back through a long and complicated road, and Judkins is active and contributing out of the backfield. You understand the impulse.

Still, this is a franchise that has been managing one crisis after another since August — the defensive line, the edge depth, the interior — and the last thing it needs is players drawing league attention for sideline theatrics. The fine itself won't break anyone financially. The distraction is the cost worth watching.