Last week, with the game still scoreless at the start of the second quarter, Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley sped past the Texans’ defense for 19 yards on an end-around for what should have been his first NFL touchdown.
The problem was that Corley released the ball at the one-yard line, thinking he had already reached the end zone. The ball eventually rolled out and was ruled a fumble and a touchback on the play.
Despite the blunder, Corley says there aren’t many coaching points he can take away outside of just holding the ball for another six inches.
“You’ve seen a lot more or less embarrassing things on the field,” Corley said. “So for me it was just a learning experience overall. It’s not a defining moment for me because imagine if I broke three tackles, you know, juke the guy and then I dropped the ball when you’re in front of the end zone, you still did that same play.”
Corley says he realized he had dropped the ball early at the same time everyone in the stadium when the play was being reviewed. Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich says he told Corley that he owed him one.
Although the play went viral on social media, Corley said the moment for him was still unbelievable.
“You wait your entire life to have an opportunity to score a touchdown in the NFL,” Corley said. “For me to have an opportunity that came so easily because the guys around me made it so easy for me.
“It was a great experience overall. I was relishing the moment even after it happened because it was such an elevated feeling for me. It was hard for it to get taken from me.”
Corley said he was “grateful” the Jets still came away with the 21-13 victory against the Texans because losing the game could have been “really bad for me.”
This week, Corley will possibly see an increased role against the Cardinals. On Tuesday, the Jets traded wide receiver Mike Williams to the Steelers. Also, Allen Lazard was placed on injured reserve prior to the Texans game, so Corley will likely be used in a lot of 11 personnel formations (one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers) along with second-year wide receiver Xavier Gipson.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for a lot of guys,” Jets offensive play-caller and passing game coordinator Todd Downing said. “You know, you have three guys in there. They’ve been working really hard in that room.
“You know, they’ve been busting their tails on the scout team and showing the things that they can do in their skill sets. And so between, you know, Malachi and Gibson and Irv [Charles], you know, those guys are all fighting for that opportunity.
“I think the cool thing about how they’ve approached the week is that they’re looking at it as how I can prove my reliability in certain roles and fight for that playtime.”
The Jets traded up to 65th overall to draft Corley in last April’s draft. He played just two snaps in the first three games of the season. Corley was inactive for three consecutive weeks before playing six snaps each in Weeks 8 and 9 against the Patriots and the Texans.
“I’m excited for my role,” Corley said. “Hopefully, I see an increased role and an increased amount of snaps and everything, but we have a good group, and we are starting to get on a roll and everything. Whatever I can do to help us win whether it’s run blocks, yards after catch, I’m just excited to help us win.”
