NFL Punishes Cowboys Star After Heartfelt Win Over Commanders
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One Dallas Cowboys favorite is getting his with NFL punishment coming out of their win over the Washington Commanders.
The Dallas Cowboys flexed their muscles against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, October 19, with a 44-22 win and bragging rights going into Week 8. It was a statement win, and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott pulled out the numbers. According to NFL research, Cowboys wide receivers George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb combined for 182 receiving yards and a touchdown before halftime even started, and that’s because of Prescott’s precise ability to connect with his teammates on the field and in the trenches.
Now, the Cowboys will head into a Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos on the road. The Cowboys have a record of 3-3-1, with the tie game being against the Packers in Week 4, while the Broncos are 5-2.
But, going into Week 8, several Cowboys players are in hot water with the NFL, including a fan favorite. Every week during the regular NFL season, the league penalizes players for their actions in the previous week’s games. The NFL notes on their website that these actions are “to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity, the NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed on a set of game-related rules violations that may result in accountability measures.”
George Pickens of the Dallas Cowboys Gets Punished By the NFL
In the NFL’s report for Week 7, Pickens was slapped with a $11,593 fine from the NFL for “taunting” and “unsportsmanlike conduct.” During the incident, with 31 seconds left in the second quarter, Prescott sent Pickens a long ball for a 44-yard gain before Pickens was pushed out of bounds by Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore. After the play, Pickens celebrated by screaming in Lattimore’s face and bumping chests. The refs didn’t throw a flag on the incident, but the NFL still fined Pickens for “taunting.”
Pickens wasn’t alone, either. Three other Cowboys players got hit with fines. Brock Hoffman was fined $6,111 for “taunting” and “unsportsmanlike conduct”; Javonte Williams was fined $16,830 for “use of the helmet” and “unnecessary roughness”; and Donovan Wilson was fined $23,186 for “use of the helmet” and “unnecessary roughness.”
The money from the fines will go to a good cause, though. According to the NFL, those fines will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation to “support legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels, including youth football and the communities that support the game.”
Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys is Moving Up
Nick Shook of the NFL’s official website has released his quarterback rankings for Week 8, and in the piece, out on Thursday, October 23, he puts Prescott in the first tier of quarterbacks in the league.
“More of the same from Dak Prescott in Week 7: Fantastic accuracy, improvisation and an undying desire to propel the Cowboys forward,” he states. “Most importantly to me, he’s established one of the best quarterback-wide receiver connections in the NFL with George Pickens. Dallas games are appointment viewing because of their highlight-producing potential.”
The Cowboys take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday, October 26, and then, they’ll play the Arizona Cardinals at home on Monday, November 3. Their NFL bye week lands on Week 10 for the 2025-26 season.
Kyle Dugger Absence vs. Browns Strains Patriots Secondary
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — With their Week 8 matchup against the Cleveland Browns set to kick off at Gillette Stadium, the New England
The Patriots (5-2) enter this matchup on the heels of a dominant 31-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Cleveland (1-5) also won its Week 7 contest against the Miami Dolphins by a score of 31-6 at Huntington Bank Field.
With just over an hour until the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, the Patriots and Browns have released their lists of inactives:
PATRIOTS INACTIVES:
S Kyle Dugger
LB Caleb Murphy
WR Efton Chism, III
DE Eric Gregory
DE Keion White
G Caedan Wallace
QB Tommy DeVito (3rd QB)
What it Means for the Patriots:
Dugger entered the weekend as questionable for Week 8 with a knee injury. The Lenoir-Rhyne product did not participate the the Pats final practice of the week and was the lone Patriot to be listed on their ultimate injury and practice participation report.
This season, Dugger has appeared in all seven games [making four starts] while compiling 17 total tackles. Due to his preseason and early-season struggles, the former Pats’ team captain has been the subject of both trade and release rumors — the former of which are expected to continue up to the NFL’s
Throughout his five-plus seasons in Foxborough, Dugger has appeared in 81 regular season games, making 69 starts. He also started his only playoff appearance in 2021. The Decatur, Georgia native has compiled 441 total tackles, nine interceptions and two fumble recoveries, while scoring three defensive touchdowns. His extensive knowledge of the Patriots playbook made him the logical choice to serve as their starter with veteran Jaylinn Hawkins being sidelined for the past two games with a hamstring injury.
Despite having just been signed by the Patriots on Oct. 15, defensive back Richie Grant’s elevation from the practice squad may indicate that he is likely to inherit some of the reps normally allotted to Dugger. The veteran safety was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason but was released prior to the start of the season. Throughout his four seasons in the NFL, the 6’0” 200-pound defensive back has played in 67 games with 33 starts and has accumulated 264 total tackles, three sacks, three interceptions, 17 passes-defensed and 11 special teams tackles.
The Patriots may also turn to second-year defensive back Dell Pettus, perhaps the more-likely choice to receive Dugger’s reps. Pettus has logged 10 total tackles, one forced fumble and one run-stuff in reserve duty this season.
BROWNS INACTIVES:
QB Shedeur Sanders
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
S Damontae Kazee
RB Raheim Sanders
G Zack Zinter
T Cornelius Lucas
DT Adin Huntington
