Jets fumble vs. Texans, explained: Malachi Corley channels DeSean Jackson, drops ball short of goal line on sure TD

It’s been that kind of year for the Jets.

On “Thursday Night Football,” in a scoreless game, Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley appeared to score his first NFL touchdown. However, Corley made a grave mistake, dropping the ball before crossing the goal line, negating the score.

After review, the play was overturned, and the Texans were awarded the ball.

What we thought was a Jets TD… is a touchback! Houston ball 😳#HOUvsNYJ on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/D3liGAROrt

— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2024The Sporting News examines what happened on the play.

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Jets fumble vs. Texans, explainedThe Jets were driving, as they were in the red zone to begin the second quarter, when the offense called a reverse to rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley. The play appeared to work, as Corley had an abundance of space in front of him for an easy touchdown.

However, Corley did not complete the play, as he fumbled the ball right before crossing the goal line.

When Corley dropped the ball before it crossed the goal line, the play was then treated as a fumble near the goal line, so whoever recovered the ball would gain possession. If no one recovered the ball and the ball stayed in the end zone, the Jets would keep the ball at the one-yard line, but if the ball rolled out of the end zone, the Texans would get the ball.

What happened on this play was the ball rolled out of the back of the end zone after Corley dropped it, resulting in a touchback for the Texans.

A slow-mo look:
pic.twitter.com/KccrnqsiwT

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2024Instead of Corley getting his first score, he gets a difficult lesson.

DeSean Jackson goal-line fumbleCorley is not the first player to make this mistake, as it has been done several times before, the most famous of which involved DeSean Jackson. The former Eagles WR dropped the ball before entering the end zone in 2008 when playing the Cowboys.

Jackson would’ve scored a long touchdown on the play, but instead it resulted in a fumble.

Wow reminds me of Desean Jackson https://t.co/GZ80XMaXSv pic.twitter.com/SVAm6l1pPB

— strallweat (@strallweat) November 1, 2024Now, whenever someone makes this mistake, Jackson immediately comes to mind.