Jets WR Elijah Moore requests a trade, league source says
Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore participates in drills during OTAs at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, N.J., on June 15. Credit: Noah K. Murray
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Frustrated receiver Elijah Moore has requested a trade from the Jets, a league source said. The Jets are not considering it, though.
Moore was not at practice Thursday for what Robert Saleh said were personal reasons. The Jets coach added that it was a family matter and that Moore’s absence was excused. But a source said that Moore was spending time with his family.
The dynamic second-year receiver is confused and upset over not being involved in the Jets’ offense lately.
Moore created buzz on social media on Sunday when he tweeted “I don’t understand” after he wasn’t targeted in the Jets’ win in Green Bay. It came at an odd time and didn’t reflect well on Moore because the Jets had just won their third straight game.
His coaches and teammates have had to answer questions over the last few days about Moore and his growing frustration.
Then Moore posted some cryptic tweets Thursday before Saleh walked over to reporters at practice to update them that Moore wasn’t at practice.
“God I need direction,” Moore wrote in a tweet that was later deleted.
Moore also tweeted, “God makes no mistakes….I trust u through it Allllllll…” and “Love my teammates!”
It’s possible Moore will be inactive for Sunday’s game in Denver, which would open the door for Denzel Mims to be active for the first time this season. Mims requested a trade before the season.
The Jets drafted Moore in the second round last year and remain confident that he will be a very productive player for them. But this drama started on Sunday night when Moore responded to a reporter’s tweet that he wasn’t thrown at once against the Packers.
“If I say what I really wanna say . . . I’ll be the selfish guy,” Moore tweeted. “We winning. Grateful! Huge blessing! All I ever wanted. Bittersweet for me, but I’ll be solid. So I’ll just stay quiet. Just know I don’t understand, either.”
That tweet and a second one in which Moore said he supports his teammates also were deleted.
Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur both said they spoke to Moore and that his confusion and frustration comes from him being a competitor who wants to help the team.
“We’ve had open dialogues, but we’re going to keep it in house,” LaFleur said Thursday morning before practice. “We’ve had talks.”
Moore was a big part of the Jets’ offense as a rookie. He led them in targets (77), receiving yards (538) and total touchdowns (six) in 11 games.
This season, Moore’s 29 targets and 16 catches rank fifth and sixth, respectively. He was targeted 21 times in the first three game and just eight in the last three.
Over the last two games, the Jets have run the ball far more than they’ve passed. Moore has been targeted just four times and has one catch for 11 yards in those games.
Quarterback Zach Wilson said he’s spoken to Moore since Sunday, and told him to trust him, he’s going to get him the ball.
“Just encouraging him,” Wilson said. “We love him. I know how important he is to this team. We’re going to do everything we can. We’re winning games. We’re having a lot of fun. Really all we can do is keep learning and growing and let him know that I need him.”
Wilson said the reason Moore hasn’t gotten the ball or many targets recently is because the Jets have been relying on the run. Wilson attempted just 18 passes last game, and only six in the second half.
“We just haven’t thrown the ball much,” Wilson said. “A lot of opportunity hasn’t gone around. It’s not a thing where I’m trying to avoid him or whatever it is because he’s a great player. I’m just going through my progressions.
“We’re talking about routes and how we can clean things up every week. It’s just being patient and trusting the process. I only had 10 completions last week. We won the game so it’s awesome. I love him and I hope that he understands that he’s special to our team.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
