The NFL rarely fines players for their actions during the preseason. But this year appears to be different. On Saturday, the league fined Cleveland Browns starting right tackle Tytus Howard $12,537 for tripping a Chicago Bears player in the preseason opener on Aug. 15.
The incident happened early in the first quarter, and the Browns were hit with a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness on the play. The NFL has yet to announce fines for the final week of preseason action, but so far, Howard's fine remains the largest of the season. The Browns traded for Howard in March, sending a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Houston Texans to acquire the veteran tackle.
Howard immediately signed a two-year, $45 million extension with Cleveland, keeping him with the team through the 2028 season. More news: Falcons Finally Set Timeline for Naming Starting Quarterback More news: 49ers’ Brock Purdy Drops Truth Bomb Ahead of Season Opener vs Rams A former first-round pick in 2019, Howard spent the first seven seasons of his career in Houston and was one of the team's top offensive linemen, starting 93 games and earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2019. Last season with the Texans, he posted an overall PFF grade of 62.8, ranking 58th among 89 qualified tackles, along with a pass-blocking grade of 77.1, which ranked 16th.
Howard is part of a major overhaul along Cleveland's offensive line, joining Pro Bowl center Elgton Jenkins, former first-round guard Zion Johnson, and rookie first-round tackle Spencer Fano. He's expected to start at right tackle in Week 1, but avoiding penalties will be key once the regular season begins. Howard was flagged for eight penalties last season with the Texans, and the Browns are counting on him to help establish a clean pocket up front.
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