Malachi Corley and the New York Jets played against the Houston Texans in Week 9. The Jets are currently on a five-game losing streak and desperately needed a win on “Thursday Night Football” to keep their playoff hopes alive.
New York was close to taking a 7-0 lead in the game, but the rookie Corley dropped the ball before entering the end zone. The drop resulted in a touchback, and Shannon Sharpe heavily criticized the Jets wideout for his error.
Shannon Sharpe Went Off on Malachi Corley
Corley had no other player near him, and it should have been an easy touchdown for him. Unfortunately, he could not control the ball, which cost his team at least six points.
“Dumb dumbs will continuously do dumb things,” Sharpe said. “How many of those DUMB plays have we seen this year alone? Why can’t players wait until they’re in the end zone?”
No TD.
Fumble.
Texans ball. pic.twitter.com/UClFEqVm3R— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2024
The Jets drafted Corley with the 65th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Western Kentucky product played four games before Week 9 and had only one reception for four yards.
The touchdown against the Texans would have been a memorable moment for him; it will still be but for the wrong reasons. This mistake from Corley summed up the Jets’ season, as almost everything has gone wrong for them.
The team is still searching for its first win after firing Robert Saleh. New York entered the game against the Texans as a two-point favorite, and both teams combined for one touchdown at halftime.
The Jets’ defense has started the game well against the Texans, but once again, the team has failed to play complementary football. Hopefully, the offense will be able to come through in the second half of the game.
NFL World Reacts to Corley’s Mistake on Thursday Night Football
As Corley was about to cross the goal line, he dropped the ball and immediately started celebrating. Aaron Rodgers and Co. joined him, and the Jets coaches even started congratulating him on his first touchdown (on the first rushing attempt of his NFL career).
The Jets’ X account (formerly Twitter) even made a celebratory post that is still up.
LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO @CorleyMalachi !!!
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 1, 2024
However, it quickly became clear that Corley dropped the ball a half-second too soon. The refs reviewed the play and confirmed that it was a fumble that went out the back of the end zone.
Had one of Corley’s Jets teammates jumped on the ball in the end zone (rather than celebrating), it would have been ruled a touchdown. But since the ball rolled out of bounds, it was ruled a turnover and a touchback for Houston.
#Jets Rookie WR Malachi Corley was about to score his first career TD but dropped the ball before crossing the goal line.
Touchback for Houston. 😬pic.twitter.com/Bd74lz3gOL
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 1, 2024
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans immediately realized what happened and started watching the replay closely. The refs reviewed the play and confirmed it was a fumble and a touchback.
Many people immediately called out Corley’s error in judgment, with many saying that Corley “pulled a DeSean Jackson.”
Only the Jets — what looked like a Jets touchdown is reversed after the runner pulls a DeSean Jackson, letting go of the ball just before crossing the goal line. A costly mistake that should never have happened.pic.twitter.com/GlEPMCtjnu
— TheJamesPatrick (@TheJamesPatrick) November 1, 2024
This is a reference to Jackson making this same mistake in 2008 as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
After catching a bomb from Donovan McNabb against the Dallas Cowboys, Jackson tossed the ball behind him in a showboating manner as he was about to cross the goal line; it looked identical to Corley’s mistake.
Throwback to DeSean Jackson dropping the ball at the 1-yard line for no particular reason 😅
🎥: @ESPNNFL https://t.co/AoElwYAqTw pic.twitter.com/sNWAw6zks9
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) November 1, 2024
The mistake is even more devastating since this was the first significant play of Corley’s NFL career. Entering tonight’s game, he had touched the ball just one time in his NFL career — a single reception for four yards. This was the first significant contribution since the Jets drafted him with the No. 65 overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Others pointed out that Corley’s error perfectly sums up the 2024 Jets, who are currently 2-6 and have found increasingly frustrating ways to lose games this season.
Malachi Corley dropping the ball before breaking the plane for a touchdown is a good summary of 2024 New York Jets football pic.twitter.com/1Jb8y8fKd1
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) November 1, 2024
This play should have been a moment that Corley will remember fondly for the rest of his life, but instead, it will go down as a blunder he won’t be able to live down.
It’s a tough time to be a Jets fan, as the fans were already showing their frustration before this infuriating play (as seen below).
Jets fans are already having a tough night after one drive 🫠 pic.twitter.com/XlIDYtF3c0
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) November 1, 2024
The Jets have dropped six of their first eight games, but they recently added some reinforcements.
Veteran wide receiver Davante Adams was acquired in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders to reunite with Rodgers, while EDGE Haason Reddick recently ended his six-week holdout and reported to the team.
It remains to be seen if the Jets can turn around their season and earn a playoff berth. A win tonight against the Texans would be a huge first step.