The Chiefs could have used running back Charcandrick West in their loss Thursday night at Oakland.
But Kansas City's third-down back was forced to sit out the game because of a concussion suffered after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers safety Mike Mitchell that was not penalized late in the first half of their game last Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
The hit in question didn't draw a penalty flag. But as it turns out, per the NFL, it was the play for which Mitchell drew a $48,680 fine. ESPN incorrectly reported Thursday Mitchell's fine was for a low hit on Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith.
Mitchell did not correct that point when I asked him about the issue on Thursday, though he was docked $9,115 for the hit on Smith, which drew a roughing the passer penalty. Per the NFL fine schedule, that would be in line with what a player would be charged for a first offense.
The $48,680 fine is the schedule for a player's second helmet-to-helmet hit, and Mitchell could face a suspension for a third offense. The NFL did, however, suspend Chicago's Danny Trevathan earlier this year for a first offense for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay receiver Davante Adams.
Mitchell did say he plans to appeal, saying, "Anytime there's a fine, you appeal."
That could mean plenty of conversations will take place between Steelers players and the league in coming weeks since Mitchell's fine wasn't the only one drawn by a Pittsburgh player in the game against the Chiefs: Le'Veon Bell was fined $12,154 for an excessive celebration penalty in the first half when he used the goal post as a prop following a touchdown. And Bud Dupree was hit with a $24,309 fine for roughing the passer.
Both of those plays drew penalty flags, though Dupree's was offset by an intentional grounding call against Smith.
The four fines were just one fewer than the Steelers had drawn in their first five games combined. Three of those came in the season opener, when William Gay, Ryan Shazier and J.J. Wilcox all drew fines for hits made at Cleveland.