Kevin Huber broke his jaw on this first-quarter play. (USATSI)
Bengals punter Kevin Huber lasted just one quarter Sunday night after Steelers linebacker Terence Garvin's vicious helmet-to-chin block during a punt return fractured Huber's jaw. It gets worse: Huber also suffered a cracked veterbrae and is headed to injured reserve, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

The injury came late on Antonio Brown's 67-yard punt return:

Turns out, Garvin's block is illegal, although no flag was thrown on the play.

According to the NFL rules, "It is a foul if a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture," and that includes "A kicker/punter during the kick or during the return." There's more: "Forcibly hitting the defenseless player's head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder, even if the initial contact of the defender's helmet or facemask is lower than the passer's neck and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him" is prohibited.

Huber also cracked a vertebrae, according to a report, and is headed to IR. (USATSI)

Put another way: Garvin can almost certainly expect to be fined.

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