The NFL fined Pittsburgh Steelers safety Mike Mitchell $48,620 for his late and dangerous hit on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith in their Week 6 clash, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider. The hit happened late in the third quarter while Smith was trying to avoid an initial blitz from Mitchell. Smith hit rusher Kareem Hunt for a complete pass before Mitchell took the quarterback back down from behind at the knees one second later. Game officials have slapped a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on the Steelers for Mitchell’s hit, which left Smith fuming.

According to Smith, Mitchell’s hit came extremely late. The veteran quarterback said the hit was “really low from the backside”, calling it “flagrant as it gets.”

The Steelers (4-2) prevailed in that game, 19-13, handing the Chiefs (5-1) their first loss of the season. Ben Roethlisberger completed 17 of 25 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown with an interception, Le’Veon Bell ran 32 times for 179 yards and a score while Antonio Brown caught eight passes for 155 yards and a touchdown for the Steelers. Smith, for his part, went 19-of-34 for 246 yards and an interception while rookie rusher Kareem Hunt was limited to just 21 rushing yards after breaking the 100-yard mark in his past three games.

Hunt made up for his lack of rushing with 89 receiving yards on five receptions.

Bucs’ Jameis Winston to play vs Bills

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston said he’s expected to start when they take on the Buffalo Bills Sunday despite suffering an AC joint sprain in their 38-33 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. However, Winston clarified that the coaching staff will have the final say on whether he will play or not.

Winston did not throw during Thursday’s practice but he will take first-team reps during Friday’s practice. Winston sustained the injury when he was tackled to the ground by Cardinals edge rusher Chandler Jones in the second quarter. Before the injury, Winston completed five of 10 passes for 61 yards and no touchdown. He was replaced by backup Ryan Fitzpatrick, who went 22-of-32 for 290 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions for the Buccaneers (2-3).

Bridgewater returns to practice

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater returned to practice Wednesday, saying he didn’t feel rusty at all, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The Vikings have three weeks to activate Bridgewater or place him on the physically unable to perform list for the rest of the season. However, Bridgewater believes that he will play this season. The Vikings are currently shallow at quarterback with starter Sam Bradford injured. In their 23-10 win over the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings started Case Keenum.