Allen Lazard ought to change his uniform quantity from 10 to a query mark.
That’s what the veteran large receiver is for the Jets this season.
Are they getting the participant who labored himself from undrafted free agent to starter in Inexperienced Bay? The one which made the Jets assume a four-year, $44 million contract was a good suggestion final yr?
Or will they get the model of Lazard they noticed final season who was inactive for 3 video games down the stretch? The one who regarded gradual and by no means had greater than three catches in a recreation?
The Jets imagine they nonetheless can get one thing optimistic out of Lazard this season. They hope a reunion with Aaron Rodgers might be sufficient to spark one thing that was lacking final yr. Up to now in coaching camp, Lazard has regarded good. Apart from a drop that led to an interception on Monday, Lazard has been making huge catches and has just a few touchdowns.
“I nonetheless count on to be a priceless starter on this staff,” Lazard mentioned Monday.
It’s powerful to examine that.
The Jets signed Mike Williams to a $10 million contract his offseason. Williams seems like a greater model of Lazard. Williams continues to be recovering from ACL surgical procedure final yr and isn’t practising but. That has led to loads of reps for Lazard in camp, however that may finish as soon as Williams is wholesome. The Jets count on Williams to return earlier than the common season. With Garrett Wilson on the other aspect, it’s onerous to see Lazard being greater than a No. 4 large receiver once you additionally embody slot receiver Xavier Gipson.
Even when he isn’t a Week 1 starter, although, Lazard can have worth. Accidents occur and he’s extra enticing because the staff’s No. 4 receiver than their No. 2. Williams additionally may have a while to regain his type post-injury and Lazard may fill in.
Lazard acknowledged Monday how troublesome his 2023 season was. He signed in March, a precursor to the Rodgers commerce. The thought was for him to offer Rodgers with a well-known goal. Like every thing else for the Jets, these plans blew up in Week 1 when Rodgers tore his left Achilles. Lazard struggled with Zach Wilson at quarterback and ended up scoring only one landing and having 311 receiving yards. The staff made him inactive on Black Friday in opposition to the Dolphins and once more for the ultimate two video games, selecting to play undrafted rookies Gipson and Jason Brownlee over him.
Lazard didn’t go too far on the concept of redeeming himself on Monday.
“I’m not right here to show anybody incorrect however simply to show myself proper,” he mentioned. “I’ve excessive expectations for myself this season and for this staff, as nicely.”
As a lot because the Jets are hoping that Lazard can provide them one thing this yr, it nonetheless looks like there’s a disconnect between the participant and the staff.
Coach Robert Saleh identified that Lazard is collaborating in particular groups this yr as a means of praising Lazard for being prepared to try this.
“He’s the primary one up in each single particular groups drill, making an attempt to reconnect to that, which is an enormous deal,” Saleh mentioned. “His head is in the correct spot.”
Lazard didn’t sound fairly as keen about taking part in particular groups as Saleh did.
“I walked in, I used to be on the depth chart there,” Lazard mentioned. “Simply by the rule of my contract and stuff and never eager to be fined, I confirmed up.”
OK then.
The Jets may have Lazard to be on the punt staff with the intention to justify having him energetic for video games. However they don’t want him tackling returners this yr, they want him catching passes.
“He’s not the primary or the final big-money free agent to form of have a hiccup in his first yr,” Saleh mentioned, “making an attempt to regulate to a brand new scheme, a brand new surroundings, a brand new apply schedule, a brand new every thing. I feel he’s doing a terrific job.”
Lazard mentioned he desires to “reestablish the worth that I carry to this staff.”
In the intervening time, his $11 million per yr wage seems like one of many worst free agent signings in current reminiscence, and that’s not a small listing.
Lazard can change all that with just a few huge video games this season. There might be a time the place Lazard is known as upon this season for the Jets due to accidents or one thing else.
Will he be capable of reply? We’ll discover out. Till then, he stays a query mark.
