Cowboys' George Pickens Fined $17.4K by NFL for Unsportsmanlike Conduct vs. Cardinals

George Pickens was fined $17,389 for taunting an opposing player Monday night during the Dallas Cowboys' Week 9 loss to the visiting Arizona Cardinals, the NFL announced Saturday.

The incident took place after Pickens caught a short pass from Dak Prescott with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. He celebrated by holding the ball out toward Cardinals cornerback Denzel Burke.

Pickens was initially flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play. The penalty cost the Cowboys 15 yards and sent them back to their own 33-yard line.

Dallas made it as far as Arizona's 37-yard line before the drive ended when Javonte Williams fumbled with just over four and a half minutes left on the clock.

The Cowboys got one more shot to chip away at the 10-point deficit before Dallas' final drive ended with Prescott getting picked off in the final 90 seconds of the game.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said after the game that he didn't see the penalty, but that flags have "plagued us a little bit."

The Cowboys lost 55 yards on six penalties in Monday's loss. Through Week 9 the team is racking up an average of 8.1 penalties per game, good for the fourth most in the NFL.

Fines were an issue for Pickens during his 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, during which his maturity was criticized by head coach Mike Tomlin as he racked up more than $90,000 in penalties.

Pickens is already up to more than $43,000 in fines during the 2025 season, incluing a $14,491 penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct regarding a celebration with CeeDee Lamb in Week 2 and a $11,593 fine for taunting Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore in Week 7.

He has also successfully established himself as a top option for Dak Prescott, recording a career-high 84.9 yards per game while racking up 49 catches for 764 yards and six touchdowns.

The Cowboys are still 3-5-1 in part thanks to struggles on defense. The franchise will hope the trade deadline acquisitions of Logan Wilson and Quinnen Williams helps the team bounce back when they return from a Week 10 bye for a Nov. 17 matchup at the Las Vegas Raiders.