Week 5 was a complete embarrassment for the Cowboys: a 24-16 loss, in front of the home fans and on primetime television, to a previously winless Buccaneers team being led by an undrafted rookie quarterback making just his second pro start.
Now, a full nine days after the fact, it will also hit one Cowboys defender right in the wallet.
Defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia has been fined by the league for grabbing the facemask of a Tampa Bay offensive player during the game.
It happened on a first-down play about midway through the second quarter, as Bucs running back Bucky Irving gained two yards on a run up the middle. Replays showed Ogbonnia clearly being put in a headlock by an opposing blocker; while blindly grabbing toward Irving to make a play,
he indeed caught a handful of facemask.
The infraction drew a personal foul flag for unnecessary roughness, and the penalty moved Tampa Bay (with the gain) from their own 10-yard-line to the 27. Despite the gift, the Dallas defense was able to eventually force a punt and keep the score tied at seven.
But the move will cost Ogbonnia $11,111. No holding penalty was called against Tampa Bay for the headlock.
As a team, the Cowboys have incurred $72,461 worth of fines through five games in 2026.
According to the league, collected fines are donated 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.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys defender fined $11K for facemask grab vs Buccaneers
