Roethlisberger suffered torn ligaments in shoulder

Dr. Richard Kasdan has treated concussion patients in Pittsburgh for 35 years and he says Vontaze Burfict became a high-speed human projectile when he crashed against Antonio Brown’s head in Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

In a news release, the league cited Burfict’s most recent transgression – an unnecessary roughness penalty with 22 seconds remaining in Saturday’s AFC wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers – as the tipping point.

According to Jim Colony of 93.7 The Fan (h/t Colin Dunlap), Steelers guard David DeCastro also said Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict spit on him in the midst of Pittsburgh’s 18-16 victory.

But that doesn’t mean Roethlisberger will necessarily do much throwing in coming days as the Steelers prepare for Sunday’s divisional round playoff game against the Denver Broncos.

Burfict has been suspended for the first three games of the 2016 National Football League regular season for his dirty, unsportsman-like conduct vs. Pittsburgh. He was fined $50,000 for “unnecessarily contacting an opponent who was out of the play” during Cincinnati’s win over the Baltimore Ravens on January 3.

NFL vice president of football operations Merton Hanks officially handed Burfict the suspension. Burfict also injured Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s shoulder, although that was deemed to be a clean hit.

Burfict has the option under the Collective Bargaining Agreement to appeal his suspension.

Panthers: Running back Jonathan Stewart said he plans to play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks after missing three weeks with a foot sprain.

Brown is still going through the concussion protocol as of Tuesday morning, however, several local beat writers believe he’ll play against the Broncos. On one, the guy pushed him back, and I was told later that (the officials) missed the first push.

Steelers’ coach Mike Munchak had a sideline altercation with Bengals safety Reggie Nelson during the fourth quarter as well.