The numbers paint an ugly picture, but New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard has seemingly put his disappointing performance in 2023 behind him.
After catching less than 47 percent of passes in the first season of his four-year contract, Lazard looks nothing like the player who missed three games last year. He has made both routine and spectacular plays throughout training camp, ending Thursday’s joint practice against the New York Giants with a touchdown.
“I think he had a really nice training camp. I’m really proud of him,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after Tuesday’s practice at Florham Park. “I think his leadership was great, more than anything. I think he carried himself with a lot of humility, which is always part of the pie you eat after a season that you wish you could have gone differently. I’m really proud of how he responded. He had a fantastic training camp.”
Rodgers spent five seasons throwing passes to Lazard as part of the Green Bay Packers’ offense. Lazard, an undrafted free agent in 2018, led the team in receptions (60) and receiving yards (788) in 2022, the QB-WR duo’s final season in Green Bay.
According to Rodgers, Lazard’s resurgence is due to a behavioral change similar to the approach that earned him a spot on the Packers’ roster years ago.
“I just liked Allen’s approach and I feel like he does some of the laborious things that really made him successful in Green Bay. That’s blocking and some of the short routes over the middle, and as you saw, he made a number of plays down the field,” said Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP.
In addition to blocking and taking on more challenging route-running assignments, the 6-foot-5 Lazard has reportedly shown interest in running on special teams.
“He looks really good. I’ve said it before, but I think he’s doing all the little things that he might have felt too good about last year, whereas this year he’s just been all in. He’s taken care of all the details in all phases and been a leader in the meeting rooms,” said head coach Robert Saleh.
Rodgers isn’t the only one who noticed Lazard’s changed approach on 1 Jets drive.
“Overall, I think he’s a lot more positive, not that he’s been negative,” Saleh said. “He’s just in a really good place.”
Lazard is tipped to be the Jets’ WR2 until Mike Williams is back to full strength. And with Rodgers back at the helm, he has the quarterback’s trust. The stage is set for a comeback season.
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