Once in a blue moon an NFL player makes a routine mistake at the worst possible time, and becomes the recipient of unwanted notoriety.
That's what happened to Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson on Saturday evening as the Colts fell 23–19 to the Houston Texans in their regular season finale. Facing fourth-and-1 with his team's season on the line, Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen took running backs Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss off the field and ran a play for Goodson.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew’s pass, which was slightly behind his intended target but still catchable, hit Goodson in his hand and fell incomplete; a minute of game time later, the Colts' season was over.
TYLER GOODSON DROPS IT ON 4TH DOWN 🤯
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) January 7, 2024
pic.twitter.com/wuKHiXaQDp
The call baffled NFL observers and fans alike.
Many felt for Minshew, Goodson and an Indianapolis team that had rallied valiantly after losing quarterback Anthony Richardson to a season-ending injury in October.
thats brutal
— charles (“you look good” - andy reid) mcdonald (@FourVerts) January 7, 2024
Confusion at the Colts' line of thinking reigned, given that Goodson entered Saturday with six NFL receptions to his name.
Any time your No. 3 RB can drop the ball on the most important play of the year…
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) January 7, 2024
Indianapolis's crunch-time removal of Taylor came under scrutiny, given the two parties' tumultuous negotiations this offseason.
I’m sure no one will mention Tyler Goodson replacing Jonathan Taylor during Indy’s single most important play of the season.
— John Daigle (@notJDaigle) January 7, 2024
Jokes were made at the Colts' expense.
Playoffs on the line the martians have the death beam pointed at the earth you better hit it? I WANT TYLER GOODSON
— Connor (@KingDaboll) January 7, 2024
Jonathan Taylor when he sees Tyler Goodson in the Colts locker room pic.twitter.com/oLadGcnCPt
— 𝓖𝓪𝓫𝓮 🍀 (@gabe_blessed) January 7, 2024
The Texans are now in line to win the AFC South should the Jacksonville Jaguars lose to the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon.
