There wasn’t much to love about the Jets’ blowout loss on Thursday night.
The defense was gashed for 500 yards of offense for the second time in three games, while the Mike White fairytale story quickly soured after he left the game in the second quarter with a forearm injury. One quarter later, it was Marcus Maye going down with a non-contact injury that looks to be a ruptured Achilles, which would end his season.
In a night full of frustrations, one of the only bright spots for Gang Green was the continued ascent of rookie wide receiver Elijah Moore.
After shining in training camp over the summer, the second-round pick disappeared through the first quarter of the season, tallying just eight catches for 63 yards in his first four games. He eclipsed that total in just one game on Sunday, making six grabs for 67 yards, and continued his rise on Thursday night, making a season-high seven catches for 84 yards, including his first two touchdowns of his career.
“Just more opportunity,” Moore said. “I feel like the more games I play, the more comfortable I get. But yeah, overall it’s probably just more opportunity. It’s just a blessing.”
Moore hauled in a 26-yard grab from Mike White to get the Jets in the red zone in the first quarter, then found himself wide open in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown immediately after to tie the game at seven apiece. Later in the game, with Josh Johnson now under center after the injury to White, Moore gave himself plenty of space again on a crossing route, running in for an easy touchdown after the catch to highlight his best game of the season, and his young career.
Over his last two games, Moore has made 13 catches on 14 targets, after making just one catch over his previous eight. It isn’t known who will be throwing to Moore in Week 10, but whoever it is, they will be targeting a rookie that seems to be finally finding his stride in the NFL.
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