The NFL trade deadline came and went and the Jets still have WR Elijah Moore on their roster.
The former first-round pick has been vocal with his frustrations with not being targeted more often in games -- going as far as to ask for a trade -- but now that there’s no way of moving him, unless they just waive him, the team says they want to get their disgruntled wideout more involved.
“We’ll find a way to make sure that balances out the way we want it to,” coach Robert Saleh said of the disparity of targets for Moore in relation to other receivers. “With Corey [Davis] being down, getting [Denzel] Mims out there keeping a bigger body out in that Z, and Garrett [Wilson] is playing at such a high level right now. We have to make sure we find more opportunities for Elijah.”
In Moore’s rookie season, he caught 43 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns. His production has completely dwindled in his sophomore stint with the Jets and under OC Mike LaFleur. In seven games (six starts), Moore has just 203 yards on 16 receptions and zero touchdowns. What’s more eye-opening is that he’s only been targeted 30 times this season, but just once in his last two games.
"I don't even know, I couldn't even tell you. I don't get the ball. I don't know," Moore said after Sunday’s loss on his chemistry with quarterback Zach Wilson.
Despite his continued frustrations, Moore addressed his trade request, and Saleh and the rest of the staff have seemingly quashed any animosity -- at least publicly. That’s a good thing as the Jets will face the heavily favored Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
“It’s going to be our biggest challenge to date,” Saleh said of facing Buffalo. “But it’s a challenge I think our guys are ready for.”
At 5-3, the Jets are enjoying their best start in years. But after a lackluster performance against the Patriots, New York is in danger of losing two straight before the Week 10 bye.