Vontaze Burfict injured on illegal hit by Juju Smith-Schuster; leaves game on stretcher

Vontaze Burfict couldn’t catch a break in the Bengals’ latest rivalry clash with the Steelers.

After injuring his arm two different times in the game, Burfict was then laid out with a monster hit by Juju Smith-Schuster in the fourth quarter. It came on a checkdown pass to Le’Veon Bell, in which Burfict was coming up from the middle of the field to tackle Bell, but then came a massive blindside hit to the helmet by Smith-Schuster.

Burfict went to the ground immediately and was clearly shaken up, but in the process, Smith-Schuster was standing over him and taunting Burfict. It was as disgusting of an act as you’ll see by an NFL player.

After Burfict was on the ground for several minutes, a stretcher came out onto the field to take him off the field. He was not moving as he exited the field.

Smith-Schuster should most definitely be suspended for this clearly illegal hit. He should have been ejected, which the announcers said multiple times, too.

The good news is Burfict gave a thumbs-up as he left the stadium on a stretcher. The game had already seen Ryan Shazier carted off and taken to a hospital with a scary injury. Joe Mixon also left the game with a concussion.

We’ll update this post as more details become available.