Jets' WR Elijah Moore Requests Trade, Frustrated Over Role

In a surprising turn of events after a slow start to the season, New York Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore requested a trade from the team on Thursday, citing disgruntlement at how he is being used in the team's offense.

According to NFL Media, the Jets say they have no plans to trade their 2021 second-round pick.

The news comes on a day in which Moore missed practice with the team, and follows a string of vague messages sent out over Twitter since Sunday's win over Green Bay. Moore was targeted just once in that contest, and saw only four targets in each of the two games prior to that.

It has a been a quick drop in usage for the receiver out of Ole Miss, who last season led the team in targets, yards receiving, and touchdowns, despite appearing in just 11 games as he battled through an injury. New York selected receiver Garrett Wilson 10th overall in this year's draft, and it is he who leads the team across the board in most receiving categories while claiming the top spot on the team's depth chart. While Moore has started all six games this season for the Jets, he trails Wilson, Corey Davis (the team's yardage leader), tight end Tyler Conkin, and rookie running back Breece Hall in targets so far.

Through six games, Moore has accumulated 16 receptions for just 203 yards receiving, and is yet to catch a touchdown. He has not eclipsed five receptions or 53 yards in a game thus far. In his rookie season, he caught 43 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns, sixth among all NFL rookies in yardage and fourth in touchdowns. He came into the season as the team's projected starter alongside Wilson.

Moore's request is not the first from a Jets wide receiver. Denzel Mims, himself a recent second-round pick by the Jets, requested a trade prior to the start of the 2022 regular season. Mims remains on the team's roster, but has spent the season as an inactive on gamedays.