'Tis the season for one-game suspensions in the NFL.
A day after Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was handed a suspension for his late hit on the Buffalo Bills' Tra'Davious White, the NFL announced one-game suspensions for Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bengals safety George Iloka for their hits in Pittsburgh's 23-20 victory over Cincinnati on Monday night.
Smith-Schuster and Iloka were each flagged for helmet-to-helmet hits. Smith-Schuster's came on a block that leveled Bengals linebacker Vontez Burfict and sent him out of the game immobilized on a stretcher. Smith-Schuster was also penalized for taunting after he stood over Burfict following the hit. Iloka's was on a touchdown reception by Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, who stayed in the game.
Each player, like Gronkowski, can appeal in the next three days. Gronkowski's appeal hearing is today.
The Steelers lost linebacker Ryan Shazier to a spinal injury earlier in the game when he was carted off after a tackle on receiver Josh Malone in the first quarter. Shazier's condition is said to be improving.