Following a violent Monday Night Football clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, two players — wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and safety George Iloka — have been suspended one game a piece for violations of safety-related playing rules.
Smith-Schuster received his suspension for a peel black block and taunting of Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Burfict was taken off of the field on a stretcher following the hit.
Iloka, meanwhile, delivered a helmet-to-helmet blow of his own to Steelers star Antonio Brown during a fourth-quarter touchdown catch.
Both players received 15-yard penalties for their hits during the game, with Smith-Schuster also drawing a taunting foul.
The entire league memo can be seen below.
JuJu Smith-Schuster & George Iloka have each been suspended 1 game for violations of safety-related playing rules. pic.twitter.com/OyDq7Ca4jy
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) December 5, 2017
Smith-Schuster issued the following apology on Twitter after the game:
“I don’t have any intentions to hurt anyone when I play football. I didn’t mean to hurt [Vontaze] Burfict, I just wanted to throw a block for my teammate. I apologize for standing over him and that isn’t me. Praying he gets better.”
The Steelers came away from Paul Brown Stadium with a 23-20 win.
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