Rashan Gary's inexplicable and egregious helmet-to-helmet hit on Arizona quarterback Gardner Minshew late in the Cowboys' most recent loss was incredibly costly within the context of the game, as both the player and his head coach readily admitted in the days afterward.
But now it will also personally cost Gary $17,911.
The NFL announced its list of Week 8 player fines, and the Cowboys linebacker is one of three Dallas defensive players who will find themselves docked for actions on the field. Safety P.J. Locke and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown were additionally fined, both for unnecessary roughness.
Gary's blatant infraction, though, was the only one to draw a penalty during the game. And it came in a critically important moment late in the contest.
The Cowboys have always had stupid players that make very stupid decisions. This one takes the cake for the stupidest I have ever seen. 3rd & 11 and you force an incompletion. Rashan Gary has other plans and INTENTIONALLY headbutts Minshew for no reason. The rest is history. pic.twitter.com/M4ik4NPax8
— Brady Clark (@Brady12Clark) November 1, 2026
The roughing the passer penalty wiped away a third-down incomplete pass and gifted the Cardinals a fresh set of downs on the Dallas 14. Minshew connected with Trey McBride for a touchdown on the next snap to make it a one-score game with just over two minutes to play.
Gary's blow opened the door for the Cardinals' wildly improbable comeback. They ultimately won the game by a 33-30 score in overtime.
“I feel like I let the team down,” Gary told DLLS after the game. “I got to be smarter. It comes down to locking in and being consistent in those type situations. It’s really focusing and playing smart ball.”
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he immediately intervened after the foul occurred to make sure Gary understood the severity of the moment.
"We pulled him out, talked to him about it, addressed it," Schottenheimer explained to reporters a day later. "RG is aware. It's a big play in the game, but it's not the only play in the game that affected the outcome of the game. But he was removed, and it was discussed."
Locke's sizable fine literally adds insult to injury; the veteran left the field after delivering an illegal helmet hit to Arizona running back Tyler Allgeier in overtime. Locke missed the final three snaps of the game and spent most of the week in concussion protocol. He has, however, been cleared to play Week 9 versus Indianapolis.
PJ LOCKE SHAKEN UP AFTER THIS HIT ON ALLEGEIER pic.twitter.com/Xe6OIW6DsK
— ClutchWire (@ClutchWireHQ) November 1, 2026
Though officials did not flag Locke for illegal use of the helmet, the league issued a $19,444 fine.
Overshown's $9,528 fine also goes into the books as illegal use of the helmet. During the second quarter of Sunday's game, he delivered a serious shot to the head of Cardinals running back Bam Knight. Replays appeared to show that Overshown tried to lead with his shoulder, but head-to-head contact was indeed made, and it turned out to be significant.
Knight not only fumbled on the play to give the ball back to Dallas in the waning seconds of the first half, he suffered a concussion and did not return to action. Knight remains in concussion protocol and will be sidelined in Week 9.
NFL fined Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown $9,528 for his hit on Bam Knight. Knight is out this week because of the concussion suffered on the play. pic.twitter.com/N3YkSIBXID
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) November 7, 2026
Overshown's fine is his second of the season. He was previously docked $9,527 for a late hit in Week 1's loss to the Giants.
Cowboys players have now been fined a combined $143,469 through eight weeks of the season.
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: 3 Cowboys defenders fined $46K for critical helmet hits vs Cardinals
