Allen Lazard had extra touchdowns on Monday night time than in his total first season with the Jets.
So already, this yr appears as if it will likely be much less forgettable for the broad receiver than 2023, when issues very a lot went within the mistaken route after Aaron Rodgers acquired harm.
“He ought to’ve acquired the stick [route] to start out the sport,” Rodgers joked of his longtime buddy, referencing a drop Lazard had on the sport’s first drive. “Aside from that he performed actually good. I’m as happy with him of the goal-line play as anything, as a result of that’s how he acquired paid. You bought paid by being the dirty man, sticking his head in there and ending and blocking performs. And he caught an awesome fade to get him going after we had the drop after which nice adjustment on the free play [for a touchdown], had the stick route go for 15 yards.
“Actually happy with Allen. That’s what I count on of him. The actually cool factor is that’s what he expects of himself. So final yr was actually arduous for him. However that’s the Allen that I feel you guys have seen all coaching camp and the Allen that I do know and love on Monday night time.”
Although Lazard’s second landing got here with Tyrod Taylor taking part in quarterback on the sport’s remaining drive, his chemistry with Rodgers was evident when the Jets scored within the third quarter.
After Rodgers hit Lazard down the sideline for 26 yards, he discovered the receiver once more three performs later after Leonard Floyd jumped offside for a 36-yard landing.
The historical past with Rodgers is, in essence, why Lazard is a Jet — and it took only one recreation of him at quarterback to start out seeing it repay.
“His mindset and the place he’s, is a lot totally different from a yr in the past,” coach Robert Saleh mentioned. “The place final yr that drop on the primary third down most likely would have caved his complete recreation. However he nonetheless grinded within the run recreation. … After which for him to have the ability to produce within the cross recreation was superior.”
The Jets solely held a walk-through as an alternative of a full apply on Wednesday.
However, Michael Carter II (ankle) and D.J. Reed (knee) would have been restricted had there been apply.
Saleh mentioned neither are issues for Sunday’s recreation.
Former Jets security Jamal Adams, who missed Week 1 for the Titans with a hip damage, was a full participant of their Wednesday apply.
There’s been no motion on Haason Reddick’s holdout, Saleh mentioned.
Requested whether or not the line of defense struggles in opposition to the Niners elevated the urgency to get one thing performed, the coach mentioned the dearth of stress on Brock Purdy was principally as a result of quarterback getting the ball out shortly.
