STEELERS’ SHAZIER STILL IS IN HOSPITAL

Linebacker left Monday night’s game writhing with his legs motionless, and he is to undergo further testing on his back injury

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier will remain in a Cincinnati hospital until at least today to undergo further testing on a spinal injury suffered in the first quarter of Monday night’s win over the Bengals.

Shazier left Paul Brown Stadium on a stretcher less than four minutes into his team’s 23-20 victory over Cincinnati following a tackle that left the 25-yearold writhing on the turf, his legs motionless. He underwent extensive testing overnight, with the team saying Shazier’s injury did not require surgery “at this time.”

The Steelers had hoped Shazier would be able to return to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The timetable has been pushed back at least 24 to 48 hours. He will remain at University of Cincinnati Medical Center under the care of neurosurgeons David Okonwko and Joseph Cheng. Shazier is expected to be transferred to a Pittsburgh hospital later in the week.

While the severity of the injury will remain unknown until the swelling subsides, the relentlessly upbeat Shazier offered a bit of hope Tuesday evening.

“Thank you for the prayers,” Shazier tweeted . “Your support is uplifting to me and my family. #SHALIEVE”

SUSPENSIONS: Pittsburgh rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cincinnati Bengals cornerback George Iloka have been suspended one game each by the NFL for violating league safety rules.

Smith-Schuster was flagged for unnecessary roughness and taunting after a blindside hit on Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict in the fourth quarter Monday night. Iloka was penalized for unnecessary roughness for a helmet-tohelmet hit on Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.

BRONCOS: Denver placed defensive end Derek Wolfe on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday with a neck injury.

GRONK: The NFL has denied Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski’s appeal of a one-game suspension for a late, gratuitous hit to the head of Bills defensive back Tre’Davious White. Gronkowski, who apologized for the hit , will serve his suspension against Miami next Monday night.

FALCONS: Atlanta guard Andy Levitre will miss a game for the first time in his NFL career. The nineyear veteran won’t play Thursday night against New Orleans because of a triceps injury. Levitre had started 140 consecutive games since entering the league with Buffalo in 2009.

BEARS: Chicago placed right guard Kyle Long on injured reserve for the second straight season. The three-time Pro Bowler has been trying to play through a left shoulder injury he suffered in 2016.

BILLS: Buffalo placed wide receiver Jordan Matthews and defensive end Shaq Lawson on injured reserve, ending their seasons.