NFL News: JuJu Smith-Schuster, George Iloka Reportedly Suspended One Game

​Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cincinnati Bengals' safety George Iloka were both suspended one game after a physical divisional battle Monday night. 

The NFL is a physical game, and viewers were reminded of that last night, as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals engaged in a tough divisional matchup. It was filled with unnecessary penalty flags that ruined what was a highly-contested, well-played game between rivals. 

The teams combined for 20 penalties, and the Bengals had a team-record 173 penalty yards, courtesy of NJ.com's Darryl Slater. There were two flags that stood out from the rest, though, and those involved Steelers' receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bengals' safety George Iloka.

Smith-Schuster and Iloka were both suspended for one game without pay for violations of safety-related playing rules, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. Patra also noted that Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported both players are appealing the ban. The NFL is putting emphasis on player safety like never before, and both cases are exactly what the league is trying to eradicate from the game. 

These sort of instances place the league in a tough spot going forward. The Steelers' wideout was suspended due to his vicious peel back block on Bengals' linebacker Vontaze Burfict, and it was exacerbated by Smith-Schuster being penalized for taunting after the hit. It was a play in which the rookie receiver was blocking for running back Le'Veon Bell.

Obviously, the league doesn't love these hits by Iloka, but on a scoring play it would have to be difficult for a safety to lay off. It remains to be seen if either suspension will be overturned, but the public outcry over both seems to be evident.​