In an effort to try and utilize Elijah Moore at a higher capacity on offense, the Jets will look to play him more in the slot going forward, a position that has always been more of a natural spot for the former Ole Miss receiver.
Head coach Robert Saleh noted Wednesday that it’s not an official move to the slot, just a chance to let him spread his wings along with having another good outside receiver in Garrett Wilson.
“I still think Elijah will be good wherever he goes,” Saleh said. “It’s a few things, there’s the emergence of Garrett on the outside also. Elijah, trying to get him some run on the inside where he can utilize his shiftiness and his separation and his route running ability, so it’s a bunch of different things, and not that he’s going to be exclusive to just the slot, it’s just going to be more opportunities in the slot. So, he hasn’t, to be official with it and maybe, I know it’s been a big deal over the Bye Week, he’s not making an official move to the slot, it’s just a lot more opportunities in the slot. So, just trying to utilize him to put him in the best positions to be successful.”
As for how Moore is preparing for the move, he is ready. All he has wanted lately in an opportunity and this could be the opportunity Moore has been asking for some time now.
“I feel good about it,” Moore said. “I’m attacking it. It’s another opportunity, another way to show my talents. All I want to do is win.”
Moore is focused on the future, saying he’s looking forward, not backward, but also added “I don’t call the plays.”
Moore totaled 2,441 yards and 16 touchdowns while at Ole Miss but so far in his NFL career, has just 59 catches for 741 yards. He has caught just 16 passes for 203 yards in 2022. Moving him around the formation should help open up the field for him and allow him to use the talents that he has, opening up the field for quarterback Zach Wilson. Whether Wilson will start targeting Moore more is a story for another day. But the opportunities for them to connect should start growing again.
