EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Malachi Corley thought he scored his first NFL touchdown for the New York Jets — but the rookie wide receiver dropped the ball before crossing the goal line.

And it rolled out of the end zone. So no touchdown, turnover for the Jets and one big rookie mistake.

“First of all, you can’t do that,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich told Corley. “Second, you owe us.”

With the Jets – who defeated Houston 21-13 on Thursday night – at the Texans 19 early in the second quarter, Corley took the coin toss from Aaron Rodgers and raced down the right sideline. Corley raced into the end zone, but just before he crossed the goal line, he dropped the ball from his right hand in celebration.

A video review showed he had not reached the end zone before dropping it. So Corley was credited with an 18-yard run and a fumble. And because it rolled out the side of the end zone, it was a touchback and a turnover.

The play left the crowd at MetLife Stadium — which was only about three-quarters full on Halloween night — stunned.

“Definitely frustrated, to be honest,” Ulbrich said of his initial reaction. “And angry at the same time. But what a great opportunity for this child to grow and learn from. I promise you that in ten years, if he’s still in this league, this will never happen again.

Corley was a third-round draft pick out of Western Kentucky who has seen little action this season. He entered with just one four-yard catch in four NFL games.

The mistake was reminiscent of DeSean Jackson’s blunder as a rookie with Philadelphia during a Monday Night Football game during the 2008 season. He prematurely celebrated a touchdown against Dallas by throwing the football behind him on the 1-yard line before getting into the end zone.

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