Mistakes -- be they by omission or commission -- are part of the game in the NFL. Jets rookie WR, Malachi Corley, who let go of the ball prematurely before crossing the goal line against Houston, which would have given the Jets a 7-0 lead and his first NFL TD, quickly turned the page to the next play.
"I was relishing the moment just as much as the entire MetLife was, and when I saw it on the playback screen my emotions were still extremely elevated just from the fact that, for me, I just scored my first NFL touchdown," Corley said. "You know, that moment got pulled back from me, but my teammates really rallied around me. Told me that they get the ball back for us. I felt really good at the moment, so my mental state right here, I didn't filter off or anything like that, and I was excited to go back in the game and make plays for my team."
The game was still scoreless at the start of the second quarter with the Jets deep in Texans territory. Corley took a pitch from QB Aaron Rodgers and motored around right end and scampered untouched for 18 yards. The apparent TD turned into a touchback when the ball rolled over the end line and out of the end zone to the chagrin of Corley, interim HC Jeff Ulbrich and every Jets fan in the building or watching on TV.
"You know, you wait your entire life to have opportunities for a touchdown in the NFL," he said. "For me to have an opportunity that came so easily because of the guys around me made it really easy for me. So it was a great experience overall. And, you know, relishing that moment, even after it happened, it was still such an elevated feeling for me that it was hard to get taken away."
The Jets moved up into Round 3 on Day 2 of this past April's draft to take Corley, 22, with the 72nd overall pick. He came to Florham Park with a built-in nickname -- the YAC King -- for his ability to pick up real estate after a catch in college at Western Kentucky. In four seasons, the speedy 5-11, 215-pound receiver set the school record with 259 career receptions for 2,943 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was All-Conference USA in his junior and senior seasons.
"Definitely frustrated," Ulbrich said after the game. "And angry at the same time. But, what an amazing opportunity for this kid to grow and learn from. I promise you 10 years from now when he's still playing in this league – that will never happen again." He added that he told Corley: "First of all, you can't do that. Second of all, you owe us one."
For Corley's sake, at least, the Jets put together a strong second half, scoring on three long drives to secure the 21-13 victory, snapping a five-game losing streak ahead of Sunday's game at Arizona.
"I was really grateful we won the game," Corley said. "Hopefully I see an increased role, increased amount of snaps. But, you know, we got a good group, and we're starting to get on a roll. So whatever I can do to help us win, whether it be run blocks or just do what I can yards after the catch."
He added: "You just take things with a grain of salt," he said. "You play the game for a long time, you've seen a lot more or less embarrassing things happen on the field. So for me, it was just a learning experience overall."
Corley and the Jets hope he gets used to hitting paydirt. But when it comes to a TD celebration, he's likely to keep it on the modest side.
"I'm probably [going] to hold on to the ball all the way to the sideline," he said with a laugh. "I give it to Coach Brick and let them know that I owed them that one."
