New York Jets receiver Allen Lazard was a free agent bust last season after signing a four-year contract, but the 28-year-old looked like a stud in Monday night’s season opener.
Lazard scored twice against the San Francisco 49ers, doubling his touchdown total from last year after just one game. He caught six of his last seven targets for a game-high 89 receiving yards.
But most importantly, Lazard, 28, looked like the player the Jets thought they were getting when they signed him to a $44 million contract 18 months ago. Speaking to reporters as the Jets prepared for their Week 2 game, the veteran receiver answered a question about what was different this year compared to last.
“Aaron Rodgers,” Lazard said Thursday at Florham Park. “It’s pretty simple.”
Lazard, a former undrafted free agent, spent the first five years of his career with the Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers. After Rodgers sat out four snaps into the 2023 season, Lazard totaled just 23 receptions on 49 targets in 14 games. He was a three-time scratch.
In 2022, his final season with Rodgers in Green Bay, Lazard led the team with 60 receptions for 788 yards. Two seasons later, Lazard and Rodgers were back on Monday Night Football and the two connected for a 36-yard touchdown.
In addition to scoring two touchdowns, Lazard helped lead running back Breece Hall on a first-quarter TD run while lining up tight in the short-yardage formation as a blocker.
“If that means blocking, catching touchdowns and getting away from the safety to open up the game, I’m in,” Lazard said.
It was doing the dirty work that got this undrafted prospect into the league in the first place and it looks like he’s reconnected with his roots.
More New York Jets news:
• Jets veteran starter could be on the hot seat ahead of NFL Week 2
• Two players key to Jets’ Week 2 win over Titans
• 49ers superstar Edge Rusher criticizes Jets while preparing for Vikings
• Jets sign former seven-year starter to practice squad as OL insurance
• The Jets’ two key offseason additions at receiver were inconclusive in the season opener
