In the fourth quarter of a Sunday Night Football showdown with the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11, Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught a pass at the line of scrimmage and then pump-faked like he was going to attempt a pass despite having crossed the line of scrimmage.
Even though he appeared to be across the line, Jeudy’s pump drew a reaction from a defender, helping the receiver gain eight yards on the play.
“I just pump faked — I don’t know what happened, I just did it,” Jeudy said after the game, via DenverSports.com’s Rachel Vigil. “I got him. I don’t know why he fell for it, I was three yards past the line of scrimmage.”
Upon further review, Jerry’s pump fake might not have been so far-fetched. Jeudy’s right foot appears to still be behind the line of scrimmage when he pulls the ball back to throw.
The NFL’s rulebook states that “it is a forward pass from beyond the line of scrimmage if the passer’s entire body and the ball are beyond the line of scrimmage when the ball is released, whether the passer is airborne or touching the ground” (emphasis added).
So it’s possible that Jeudy might have been able to pull off a legal forward pass while still behind the line, but not if quarterback Russell Wilson’s initial pass was deemed a forward pass. We we’ll never know if it might have worked because the receiver brought the ball down and ran. It was one of the highlights of SNF, and Twitter/X loved it.
"I don't know why he fell for it, I was 3 yards past the line of scrimmage." – Jerry Jeudy on his pump fake last night. #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/9AFghuNeXL
— RG 📷 (@RyanGreeneDNVR) November 20, 2023
Jerry Jeudy, jack of all trades, has a PBU and a pretty decent pump-fake so far in this game.
— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel) November 20, 2023
14 hours later I'm still laughing about Jerry Jeudy's pump fake
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) November 20, 2023
The Jerry Jeudy pump fake vs the Vikings still has me chuckling today. #Broncos
— Thomas Hall (@ThomasHallNFL) November 20, 2023
Jerry Jeudy just hit the pump fake for absolutely no reason and it worked
— Henry Chisholm (@HenryChisholm) November 20, 2023
can't stop thinking about the Jerry Jeudy pump fake
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) November 20, 2023
How did Jerry Jeudy pump fake a defender 5 yds downfield?#BroncosCountry #MINvsDEN
— Out Fox Sports (@MarkHolder27) November 20, 2023
Jerry Jeudy pump fake 3 yards down the field is hilarious 😂
— Matt King (@BetWithMatt_) November 20, 2023
Jerry Jeudy on the pump fake: “I don’t why he felt for it. I was three yards in front of the line of scrimmage.” pic.twitter.com/3GY1X0FAIf
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) November 20, 2023
Outside of everything Courtland Sutton has done this season, Jerry Jeudy’s pump fake is the Broncos’ offensive play of the year! 😂 https://t.co/snqZFMhonq
— Alexis Perry (@alexisraeperry) November 20, 2023
#Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy pump fakes a #Vikings defender… 5 yards down the field lol pic.twitter.com/yc2VFH9Tlt
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) November 20, 2023
Jerry Jeudy got em with the pump fake 🤣
pic.twitter.com/x3jf4MDF5n— PFF (@PFF) November 20, 2023
Jerry Jeudy pump-faking the Vikings defense in front of the line of scrimmage, then openly laughing about pump-faking the Vikings is my new favorite thing from today pic.twitter.com/KbwR8iMV9Q
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) November 20, 2023
Jeudy finished the game with five receptions for 58 yards. He didn’t score on SNF, but Jeudy’s pump fakes was one of the best plays of the game.
