New York Jets welcome back a young offensive starter
It looks like New York Jets rookie wideout Elijah Moore‘s stint on the sidelines has already come to an end. After missing one game with a concussion, Moore is out of the concussion protocol and returned to practice on Wednesday, per head coach Robert Saleh.
Moore struggled to get going over the first three games of the season, catching eight of 18 targets for 66 yards, zero touchdowns, and two first downs.
While the Mississippi product has been consistently running good routes and creating separation, he has struggled to get on the same page with quarterback Zach Wilson, and in Week 1, he allowed two passes (one for a potential gain of over 50 yards) to sail through his hands.
Moore represents the primary good news on the Jets’ latest injury report ahead of their Week 5 clash with the Atlanta Falcons at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
NYJ-ATL Wednesday injury report. Elijah Moore is back, per Robert Saleh. #Jets pic.twitter.com/c69quzmklV
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) October 6, 2021
Wide receiver Denzel Mims missed Wednesday’s practice with a non-COVID illness. Mims returned to the field in Week 4 after two consecutive games as a healthy scratch. He played 10 offensive snaps (16% of offensive plays) and was not targeted but threw a couple of solid blocks.
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Fellow wideout Jeff Smith (concussion) remains in concussion protocol after missing the Week 4 win over Tennessee.
Rounding out the offensive injuries, tight end Tyler Kroft did not practice with a back injury. Kroft had been limited in practice throughout the week ahead of the Titans game with a rib injury but ended up playing.
On the defensive side, Marcus Maye remains out as expected with an ankle injury. He was given a 3-to-4 week timetable ahead of Week 4, so his earliest possible return date would be after the Jets’ Week 6 bye to take on the Patriots in Week 7.
Cornerback Brandin Echols and safety Adrian Colbert missed Wednesday’s practice with concussions and are in concussion protocol.
Echols, who has been the Jets’ starting right cornerback, left with a concussion early in the Titans game and was replaced by Javelin Guidry. Colbert split snaps at free safety with Sharrod Neasman in the Tennessee game, playing 26% of the snaps while Neasman played 74%.
Defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (knee) also sat out on Wednesday. He played 37 defensive snaps against the Titans (37% of defensive plays) and has been averaging 28.3 defensive snaps per game (39% of defensive plays).
In other good news, linebacker Blake Cashman returned to practice after spending the previous three games on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
