NFL overturns suspension for Bengals safety Iloka

The NFL has overturned the one-game suspension it gave Cincinnati Bengals safety George Iloka for his helmet-to-helmet hit on a defenseless receiver in Monday night’s 23-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Iloka drew a 15-yard penalty for his hit on Antonio Brown after the receiver caught a game-tying touchdown pass with 3:21 remaining.

Iloka has been fined $35,464.50 in lieu of the suspension, according to a report from NFL.com.

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The league also suspended Pittsburgh wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for his hit on Vontaze Burfict and subsequent taunting. Smith-Schuster also appealed his suspension, but the league upheld it.

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The overturned suspension means Iloka is expected to make his 31st consecutive start Sunday against Chicago, when the Bengals are likely to be thin in the secondary. Cornerbacks Dre Kirkpatrick (concussion), Adam Jones (groin) and Darqueze Dennard (knee) suffered injuries in the Pittsburgh game, and safety Shawn Williams has missed two games in a row with a hamstring injury.

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