A.J. Derby makes highlight reel touchdown catch in win
Denver Broncos tight end A.J. Derby made a highlight reel, one-handed touchdown catch in the team’s week four win vs. Oakland…
The Denver Broncos made a mid-season trade in 2016 to acquire tight end A.J. Derby, who has shown at times his ability to make plays as a receiver.
There have not been any more impressive plays than the one he made on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders to get the Broncos on the board with a touchdown catch in the first quarter.
This put the Broncos up 7-0, and will most definitely be one of the top catches of the week, if not the season. Feast your eyes:
A.J. Derby’s first career touchdown was FILTHY pic.twitter.com/C5rsNjyqZr
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 1, 2017
Derby had a very good afternoon overall, including this touchdown catch. He ended up with four receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown, and he could have had even more. One more tough grab would have given Derby and the Broncos another chain-moving play and chance at more points, but he unfortunately dropped it.
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The dropped pass doesn’t derail the great play he made right here, however, and this is a catch that will be on the top play list for quite some time.
This one-handed catch was particularly impressive for a couple of reasons.
First of all, when the tape is slowed down a bit, you can see that Derby doesn’t really ever get the ball into the palm of his hand before he gains control of the football. He essentially controls the ball with the tips of his fingers.
Second, Derby doesn’t reach his other hand over to help as he races into the end zone. He keeps control of the ball with one hand, before he emphatically spikes the ball in the end zone.
Third, the footwork and concentration to stay in bounds here is pretty awesome. This is a tough catch, even with two hands, but for Derby to make the play with his fingertips, then stay in bounds, and find the end zone — it’s a whale of a first career touchdown for Derby, hopefully with many more to come.