FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore, who recently expressed frustration with his suddenly limited role, was excused from practice Thursday by the team to attend to a personal matter involving his family.
Moore wasn’t seen during the early portion of practice that reporters can watch. Coach Robert Saleh, who doesn’t have a news conference on Thursdays, briefly updated reporters standing on the sideline on the reason for Moore’s absence without providing details.
In the first of three posts on Twitter, Moore said: “Love my teammates!” That was followed by: “When someone tell u how they feel the first time BELIEVE THEM!” The final tweet read: “God I need direction.” The last two have since been deleted. Earlier Thursday, Moore also tweeted: “God makes no mistakes….I trust u through it Allllllll…”
Moore, a second-round pick last year out of Mississippi, created some buzz Sunday on social media after New York’s 27-10 victory at Green Bay — the team’s third straight win — when he quote-tweeted a reporter’s post that pointed out he had no receiving targets in the game.
“If I say what I really wanna say…I’ll be the selfish guy…we winning,” Moore said in the since-deleted post. “Grateful! Huge blessing! All I ever wanted. Butter sweet for me em but I’ll be solid. So I’ll just stay quiet.
“Just know I don’t understand either.”
Moore is coming off a promising rookie season during which he caught 43 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games, including six starts.
His production is down this season, though, with just 16 catches for 203 yards and no scores in six games — all starts — while working in an offense that includes wide receivers Corey Davis, rookie Garrett Wilson and Braxton Berrios, tight ends C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin and pass-catching running backs Breece Hall and Michael Carter. The Jets have also focused more on running the ball in recent weeks.
“We’ve had conversations. He’s fine,” Saleh said Monday when asked about Moore’s postgame tweets. “He’s a competitive young man. Like everybody, when you’re a competitor like him, he wants to contribute.”
Saleh added he has no problems with Moore.
“He’s one of our high-character individuals,” the coach said. “I love him to death. Eventually, the production part of it that he’s hoping for will come. He’s just continuing to work.”
On Thursday, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur echoed Saleh’s comments and added he has had “open dialogue” with the wide receiver, but “we’re going to keep it in-house.”
The Jets play at Denver on Sunday. There was no immediate word on when Moore would return to the team or whether he’ll be available to play in the game.
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