Jets’ Elijah Moore requests trade after voicing frustration with limited role in offense
Elijah Moore #ElijahMoore
The Jets are finally winning, but that apparently hasn’t stopped the drama.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore, frustrated with his lack of opportunities within the offense, has asked for a trade — a request the Jets are not considering granting a source told NJ Advance Media.
NFL Network first reported the trade request and the Jets’ intentions.
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Moore was not at practice Thursday, just days after he voiced frustration on social media about his role in the offense after not getting a target in Sunday’s win over the Packers. Coach Robert Saleh said Moore was excused from practice to tend to a personal matter.
But after practice quarterback Zach Wilson hinted that Moore’s frustration had become a serious concern in the locker room.
“We love him,” Wilson said. ”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 letting him know that, yeah, I need him.”
By early Thursday night, Moore’s request had become public knowledge, and suddenly the Jets (4-2) were facing a potential distraction that could derail their promising start. They’ve won three straight games to get to two games over .500 for the first time since 2015.
The first clue that something was amiss with Moore came after the win over the Packers, when Moore added his own commentary while sharing a Tweet from a reporter who noted it was “hard to understand” why Moore had zero targets in Green Bay.
“If I say what I really wanna say…I’ll be the selfish guy…we winning. Grateful!” Moore wrote. “Huge blessing! All I ever wanted. [Bitter] sweet for me but I’ll be solid. So I’ll just stay quiet. Just know I don’t understand either.”
Monday, Saleh said he talked to Moore and that his comments were a product of the receiver’s competitive nature and his wanting to contribute.
“I’ve got no problem with Elijah,” Saleh said. “He’s one of our high-character individuals. I love him to death. Eventually, the production part of it that he’s hoping for will come. He’s just continuing to work.”
Early Thursday afternoon, when Moore posted two cryptic message on Twitter less than 15 minutes before the scheduled start of practice — unusual because typically players are already on the field or about to be at that point.
“Love my teammates!” Moore wrote in the first post, followed by “God I need direction.” The second tweet was deleted shortly after it was posted.
Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, Moore’s close friend, posted about the situation in a Tweet that was quickly deleted.
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“One of the strongest people I know. Tough times don’t last, tough people do. We smile in the midst of adversity because we know God is doing the fighting. Love ya and see you soon,” Brown wrote, posting a photo of him and Moore.
By Thursday night, the cryptic posts made a lot more sense. Moore wanted out.
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Andy Vasquez may be reached at avasquez@njadvancemedia.com.
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Jets rookie receiver Elijah Moore during practice. The first day of Jets rookie minicamp.. Friday, May 7, 2021. Florham Park, N.J.
© Aristide Economopoulos/nj.com/TNS