Burfict’s season ends with a ban
League suspends repeat offender for an unsafe hit
Raiders l i nebacker Vontaze Burfict was suspended Monday for the rest of the season for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Colts tight end Jack Doyle.
It’s the most severe punishment in league history for an on-field infraction.
Burfict will miss the final 12 games and any playoff games for “repeated violations of unnecessary roughness rules.”
ESPN reported that Burfict will appeal.
He has been suspended three times in his career for hits violating the player safety rules.
It’s that history that led to the harshest playersafety punishment, topping five games the Titans’ Albert Haynesworth got in 2006 for kicking and stomping on Cowboys center Andre Gurode’s face.
Steelers get 1st win: Mason Rudolph threw for 229 yards and two TDs to pick up his first victory while filling in for Ben Roethlisberger as the Steelers easily handled the visiting Bengals 27-3.
Rudolph completed 24 of 28 passes. He connected with James Conner on a delayed screen for a 21-yard TD in the second quarter, then broke the game open with a 43-yard heave to rookie Diontae Johnson midway through the third as the Steelers (1-3) won their ninth straight over the Bengals (0-4).
Jaylen Samuels ran for 26 yards and a TD, caught eight passes for 57 yards and was even credited with three completions as the Steelers avoided just their second 0-4 start in 51 years.
Broncos lose Chubb: The winless Broncos suffered the worst loss so far when defensive end Bradley Chubb tore his left ACL. He will need seasonending surgery.
The fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft, Chubb was injured in the Broncos’ 26-24 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday, although he finished the game.
“It’s a huge loss,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said.
Trubisky update: QB Mitch Trubisky suffered a dislocated left shoulder and slightly torn labrum early in the Bears’ 16-6 win over the Vikings, ESPN reported.
Trubisky likely won’t play against the Raiders this weekend in London, but he doesn’t need surgery.
The Bears are off the week after, leaving the possibility for a relatively quick return for Trubisky.
Veteran backup Chase Daniel took over against the Vikings and will start in Trubisky’s place.
Extra points: Bears coach Matt Nagy said the status of LB Roquan Smith remains up in the air after he was scratched from the team’s win over the Vikings. Nagy said Smith is out because for “personal reasons,” but didn’t give specifics. ... Pro Bowl LT Tyron Smith is week to week after suffering a high ankle sprain in the Cowboys’ loss to the Saints.