Broncos Duo Slapped With $14,926 Fine Over Illegal Celebrations

August 29, 2026, Denver, Colorado, USA: Broncos QB SAM EHLINGER celebrates with his Offensive line after throwing a 80 yard TD pass during the 2nd. Half at Empower Field at Mile High Friday evening. Broncos beat the Vikings 34-6 in Pre-Season play. Credit Image: / ZUMA Press Wire Denver USA - ZUMAav4_ 20260829_zaf_av4_040 Copyright: xHectorxAcevedox IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire

Broncos Duo Slapped With $14,926 Fine Over Illegal Celebrations

Originally posted on DenverBroncosCommunity
By Joseph Nithin | Last updated Oct 3, 2026 11:53 PM ET

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The Denver Broncos pulled off an incredible comeback against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, overcoming a 16-0 halftime deficit to win 30-26. Denver came alive after the break, with Bo Nix leading the charge as the offense found its rhythm. Crucially, the Broncos converted both of their two-point attempts, helping fuel their remarkable second-half turnaround.

However, one of those conversions has now proved costly for two Denver players. After Jaylen Waddle caught a two-point conversion, he celebrated alongside offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz. The pair pantomimed rolling dice, seemingly recreating a game of Yahtzee, but the NFL was not amused.

Both players have reportedly been fined $14,926 for unsportsmanlike conduct, with the league categorizing the violation as “illegal celebrations and vulgar acts.” Meinerz confirmed the punishment and joked that the league apparently disapproved of their Yahtzee celebration. He has also indicated that he intends to appeal.

Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle and RG Quinn Meinerz were both officially fined $14,926 for illegal celebrations following Waddle’s 2-point reception in comeback vs Rams.
Both pantomimed Yahtzee dice rolls. Unbelievable.
— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) October 3, 2026

The reasoning behind the specific ruling remains unclear. The NFL has previously allowed similar dice-roll celebrations, even acknowledging in 2017 that it could not determine whether players were referencing Yahtzee or backgammon. Nevertheless, the league has now deemed the Broncos duo’s celebration a violation, turning a memorable moment into an expensive one.

The Broncos Must Avoid Slow Starts and Costly Comebacks

While Denver’s comeback demonstrated tremendous resilience, the team cannot afford to keep putting itself in such difficult positions. Starting slowly has been a recurring concern, and facing large deficits forces the offense to chase points and take additional risks.

The two-point conversions helped Denver complete its comeback, but relying on such plays is hardly a sustainable strategy. Stronger starts would reduce the need for desperate second-half rallies and give the Broncos greater control over games.

For now, Denver can celebrate a crucial victory, even if Waddle and Meinerz are paying for their celebrations. However, the Broncos will need more complete performances going forward.

This article first appeared on DenverBroncosCommunity and was syndicated with permission.

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