Why Derek Stingley was fined $11,593 in Week 7 against the Seahawks

Back in March, Houston Texas they made one of the biggest moves of the offseason when they signed a star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. to a three-year, $90 million contract extension.

The deal made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history and cemented his status as a franchise cornerstone of Houston’s defense. The team’s official X, formerly Twitter, account reacted to the news with humor and excitement, celebrating the extension that keeps Stingley in Houston in the prime of his career.

After battling injuries his first two seasons, Stingley had a breakout campaign in 2024, earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. He recorded 54 tackles, five interceptions and 18 passes defensed while holding opposing quarterbacks to just 51.2 passing yards when targeted.

Because of that elite production, Houston’s front office easily decided to lock him up long-term as the leader of their secondary.

However, Stingley made headlines for an entirely different reason after the Texans’ 27-19 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelliser, the Pro Bowl linebacker was fined $11,593 by the league for a facemask penalty that led to a brief sideline brawl.

“The NFL fined #Texans CB Derek Stingley $11,593 for wearing a face mask that caused a ruckus on the sideline Monday night in Seattle. No other fines,” Pelissero reported.

The incident occurred late in the game when Stingley grabbed a Seahawks player by the mask during a tackle and appeared to take his helmet off. The opposing player quickly responded with a shove, sparking a small brawl before teammates and referees separated the two sides. While tempers flared, no punches were thrown, and the situation quickly de-escalated.

NFL fined #Texans CB Derek Stingley $11,593 for a face mask, causing a commotion on the sideline Monday night in Seattle.

No other penalties were imposed.

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— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 25, 2025

It is the first penalty of the season for Stingley, who has built a reputation for physical but clean play. The penalty was a rare blemish for a defender known for his technical precision and disciplined coverage. Houston’s coaching staff is expected to address the matter internally, but remains confident in Stingley’s leadership on and off the court.

Meanwhile, the Texans received more bad news in Week 8. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the wide receivers Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) are out for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Collins left the Week 7 game early after taking a hard hit, while Kirk battled a lingering hamstring problem. Their absences will test quarterback CJ Stroud and the Texans’ depth at receiver as they look to avoid a 2-5 start.