Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons has been fined $21,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez during the second quarter last weekend.

The fine is the first known penalty imposed on the Steelers this season. The NFL doesn't make fines official until Friday, but the league alerts players a day or two in advance.

On a third-and-3 from his own 27, Sanchez rolled to his right, pulled up and threw a pass toward the sideline intended for Jeremy Kerley. As Sanchez stopped moving forward, Timmons slammed into the quarterback with his helmet, drawing a 15-yard personal-foul penalty.

Without the penalty, the Jets would have had to punt, but they went on to drive to the Steelers' 19 before Nick Folk kicked a 38-yard field goal - New York's final points during Pittsburgh's 27-10 victory at Heinz Field.

The $21,000 is a standard fine for a hit to the head and is an increase of 5 percent over last season, when such a fine was $20,000.

Prior to being hit by Timmons, Sanchez was 4 of 5 for 80 yards. After the hit, he was 6 of 22 for 58 yards.