NFL fines Deshaun Watson and two other Browns for touchdown celebration that included “imaginary marijuana cigarette” gesture

The NFL fined three Cleveland Browns players, including quarterback Deshaun Watson, for a touchdown celebration that incorporated what the league described as an “apparent passing of an imaginary marijuana cigarette.” The matter came after Browns running back Quinshon Judkins scored a second-quarter touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the group celebration included the gesture in question, according to a report published Tuesday by Yahoo Sports.

The fine was connected to the NFL’s long-standing policy on “impermissible” celebrations. In the report, the league and the NFL Players Association pointed to the specific nature of the action, saying it fell under celebrations that depict or reference marijuana use, and therefore can be sanctioned even when the player is not actually using any substance.

While the report focuses on Watson and Judkins, it also says two other Browns players were included in the fine group. The NFL’s decision underscores that the league is still willing to attach penalties to end-zone moments that are framed as stunts or props, as long as they are deemed to violate the celebration rules.

For the Browns, the episode is another reminder that game-day expression is tightly policed in the NFL, where even informal team rituals can lead to formal discipline. It also places additional attention on how players celebrate touchdowns and how quickly visuals spread beyond the stadium, often turning a brief sequence into a league-wide talking point.

The Browns’ next steps will be more about process than personnel in the immediate term. With fines tied to a specific visual gesture rather than on-field play calling, the most direct takeaway is likely behavioral, namely what players are told to avoid in the end zone and how teams manage celebration choreography after scoring.

More broadly, the NFL’s message is that “joint” and “cigarette” portrayals are not treated as harmless shorthand. The league-NFLPA notice, as described in the report, leaves little ambiguity that marijuana-themed imagery can still drive fines under the existing celebration framework.

Going forward, Browns games will be watched not just for offensive output, but for the details of post-touchdown visuals. If the league enforces the same standard elsewhere this season, teams may respond by tightening end-zone routines to minimize the risk of another penalty for what is essentially a symbolic gesture.