Should I Assume This Play Is Illegal in the States?

[ump33]

Originally Posted by maven

The penalty for R's illegal kick would be 15 yards.

It might not be enforced, however: R's illegal kick is treated as a fumble. There are a variety of scenarios here (R kicks pre- or post-possession, K or R recovers the ensuing "fumble," etc.). Here are a couple:

Play 1: K punts past the NZ, R kicks the ball pre-possession from the ground, K recovers. The penalty for IK during this loose-ball play would be enforced from the previous spot, 15 yards, and the down replayed (or 1/10 if past the LTG).

Or ... If IK enforcement leaves the ball short of the LTG, K can decline the IK and they take the result of the play ... 1st & 10 for K where they were downed (because R touched the kick beyond the NZ).