NFL will not fine CeeDee Lamb after collision with referee during Cowboys preseason game

The NFL will not be fining CeeDee Lamb after the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver collided with an official last week, per multiple reports. Lamb, who was on the sideline in his street clothes for the Cowboys' preseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams, was bowled over by a referee while celebrating a play from his teammate.

The collision occurred as Lamb stepped forward from the sideline, right into the path of a referee that was barreling down the field to follow the play. Lamb was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the contact.

Under NFL rules, players are fined for any physical contact with officials in addition to the 15-yard penalty, with a $40,686 fine for a first offense, and a $81,374 fine for a second offense.

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It's not entirely clear why Lamb was not fined for Saturday's contact, but it's possible that the league decided to be lenient given that Lamb was decked in the process.

NFL determined that Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb will not be fined for the penalty and contact he drew last week vs the Rams, per a league official. pic.twitter.com/ZnRaFGSiE4

- Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 16, 2025

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed the incident in a news conference after the game, which ended in a 31-21 Rams win.

"I hope the guy's OK, I think he's OK, the official that [he] ran into, but we have to be better than that. CeeDee knows better. We know better," Schottenheimer said.

Lamb sat out of last week's game as Dallas rested most of its starting lineup. The Cowboys will play their second preseason game, and first home game of the year, on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens.