WATCH: Elijah Moore scores first career NFL touchdown for Jets
Elijah Moore has found the end zone for the New York Jets for the first time in his NFL career. The rookie wide receiver out of Ole Miss took a reverse play, running 19 yards into the end zone for the touchdown. The touchdown cut the New England Patriots lead to 31-13 early in the third quarter.
Moore’s touchdown for the Jets was his second touch of the day. His first touch was a 13-yard reception earlier in the game. Coming into the game, Moore had eight receptions on 20 targets for 66 receiving yards.
The Jets lost quarterback Zach Wilson to a knee injury earlier in the game, so Mike White has been leading the Jets offense in the second half.
The Jets selected Moore in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft
Moore emerged as one of college football’s best wide receivers for Ole Miss in recent years. After catching 36 passes for 398 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman in 2018, he broke out over the next two years. In 2019, Moore caught 67 passes for 850 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, he caught 86 passes for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns.
Moore’s strong end to his collegiate career resulted in the Jets taking him with the 34th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. As he was entering his rookie season, Moore had high expectations as one of the top wideouts in last year’s draft class.
“PFF’s lead draft analyst Mike Renner labeled Moore as the best slot receiver in the class after putting up over 1,700 receiving yards when lined up inside since 2019 — more than any other player in college football,” Pro Football Focus wrote of Moore. “His combination of sure hands, toughness, and speed is ideal for the position. There’s a good chance he becomes “Moore” than a slot-only guy in the NFL.”
Moore should continue growing into a larger role as the season progresses in New York.