Malachi Corley’s fumble costs Jets touchdown vs. Texans

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  • Rich Cimini, ESPN staff writerOctober 31, 2024, 9:21 PM ET

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      Rich Cimini is a staff writer covering the New York Jets and the NFL on ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years and joined ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He is a former beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him on Twitter @RichCimini.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — New York Jets rookie Malachi Corley will never forget his first NFL broadcast. He wishes he could.

The wide receiver, known in college for his ability to produce yards after the catch, got the ball on a jet sweep and scored on a 19-yard run — or so it seemed. The celebration was cut short because he was adjudged to have dropped the ball before crossing the goal line.

It was a deliberate fall; Corley thought he was in the end zone. After a replay review, it was ruled a fumble. The ball rolled out of the end zone and was declared a touchback. When it goes bad, it goes really bad.

Instead of a 7-0 lead, the Jets had to go back on defense. For the record, it went in the books as an 18-yard rush for Corley.

The third-round pick out of Western Kentucky, known as the “YAC King” in college, has played just a handful of snaps this season. The Jets drafted him in part because of his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands. The trick, of course, is to hold it in your hands.