Malachi Corley thought he scored his first NFL touchdown for the New York Jets, but the rookie wide receiver dropped the ball before crossing the goal line.
And it rolled out of the end zone. So no touchdown, turnover for the Jets and one big rookie mistake.
With the Jets at the Texans 19 early in the second quarter, Corley took the coin toss from Aaron Rodgers and raced down the right sideline. Corley raced into the end zone, but just before he crossed the goal line, he dropped the ball from his right hand in celebration.
A video review showed he didn’t get into the end zone before dropping it. So Corley was credited with an 18-yard run and a fumble. And because it rolled out the side of the end zone, it was a touchback and turnover.
The play left the crowd at MetLife Stadium — which was only about three-quarters full on Halloween night — stunned.
Corley was a third-round draft pick out of Western Kentucky who has seen little action this season. He entered with just one four-yard catch in four NFL games.
The mistake was reminiscent of DeSean Jackson’s blunder as a rookie with Philadelphia during a Monday Night Football game during the 2008 season. He was celebrating a touchdown against Dallas prematurely by turning the football behind him at the one-yard line before entering the end zone.