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 seemed sluggish and by no means had greater than three catches in a sport?
The Jets consider they nonetheless can get one thing constructive out of Lazard this season. They hope a reunion with Aaron Rodgers will likely be sufficient to spark one thing that was lacking final yr. Thus far in coaching camp, Lazard has seemed 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 group,” Lazard mentioned Monday.
It’s robust to examine that.
The Jets signed Mike Williams to a $10 million contract his offseason. Williams appears like a greater model of Lazard. Williams remains to be recovering from ACL surgical procedure final yr and isn’t working towards 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 alternative facet, it’s exhausting to see Lazard being greater than a No. 4 large receiver once you additionally embrace slot receiver Xavier Gipson.
Even when he isn’t a Week 1 starter, although, Lazard can have worth. Accidents occur and he’s extra engaging because the group’s No. 4 receiver than their No. 2. Williams additionally might have a while to regain his type post-injury and Lazard might fill in.
Lazard acknowledged Monday how tough his 2023 season was. He signed in March, a precursor to the Rodgers commerce. The concept was for him to offer Rodgers with a well-recognized goal. Like every part 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 group made him inactive on Black Friday towards 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 group, as properly.”
As a lot because the Jets are hoping that Lazard can provide them one thing this yr, it nonetheless seems like there’s a disconnect between the participant and the group.
Coach Robert Saleh identified that Lazard is collaborating in particular groups this yr as a approach of praising Lazard for being prepared to try this.
“He’s the primary one up in each single particular groups drill, attempting to reconnect to that, which is an enormous deal,” Saleh mentioned. “His head is in the fitting spot.”
Lazard didn’t sound fairly as obsessed with 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 desirous to be fined, I confirmed up.”
OK then.
The Jets might have Lazard to be on the punt group in an effort 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 type of have a hiccup in his first yr,” Saleh mentioned, “attempting to regulate to a brand new scheme, a brand new setting, a brand new follow schedule, a brand new every part. I feel he’s doing an amazing job.”
Lazard mentioned he desires to “reestablish the worth that I carry to this group.”
For the time being, his $11 million per yr wage appears like one of many worst free agent signings in current reminiscence, and that isn’t a small checklist.
Lazard can change all that with just a few huge video games this season. There will likely be a time the place Lazard is known as upon this season for the Jets due to accidents or one thing else.
Will he have the ability to reply? We’ll discover out. Till then, he stays a query mark.
