Rookie receiver’s blooper negates Jets’ touchdown vs. Texans

We’ll, that’s a new one.

New York Jets’ rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley appeared to score his first career touchdown on a first-quarter end around against the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football, but the play turned into the ultimate blooper at the goal line.

While running untouched toward the end zone on 1st-and-10 from the Texans’ 19-yard line, Corley dropped the football in celebratory fashion prior to breaking the plane on what was the first snap of the second quarter in a score game. With the subtle drop going largely unnoticed in real time, the official signaled touchdown as the rookie celebrated alongside Jets’ teammates.

With all scores subjected to automatic replay review, Corley’s blunder was spotted and the on-field ruling was overturned. It was determined that the rookie ball carrier did not cross the goal line before losing possession of the ball, which eventually rolled unimpeded out of the back of the end zone. The offensive fumble through the end zone resulted in a touchback for Houston.

Had the ball remained unrecovered in the end zone, the Jets would have retained possession at the spot of the fumble.

Corley, the No. 65 overall draft pick, was sparingly deployed over the season’s first eight weeks. He was a healthy scratch on three occasions. Although he was active for the first four games, the receiver totaled only three snaps over that span.

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In Week 8, Corley saw six offensive reps against the New England Patriots and put his run blocking ability on film. He was not targeted as a receiver.

Entering the October 31 home game against the Texans, Corley had one catch for four yards on one target.

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