Allen Lazard had more touchdowns on Monday night than in his entire first season with the Jets.
So already, this year looks as though it will be less forgettable for the wide receiver than 2023, when things very much went in the wrong direction after Aaron Rodgers got hurt.
“He should’ve got the stick [route] to start the game,” Rodgers joked of his longtime buddy, referencing a drop Lazard had on the game’s first drive. “Other than that he played really good. I’m as proud of him of the goal-line play as anything else, because that’s how he got paid. You got paid by being the grimy guy, sticking his head in there and finishing and blocking plays. And he caught a great fade to get him going after we had the drop and then great adjustment on the free play [for a touchdown], had the stick route go for 15 yards.
“Really proud of Allen. That’s what I expect of him. The really cool thing is that’s what he expects of himself. So last year was really hard for him. But that’s the Allen that I think you guys have seen all training camp and the Allen that I know and love on Monday night.”
Though Lazard’s second touchdown came with Tyrod Taylor playing quarterback on the game’s final drive, his chemistry with Rodgers was evident when the Jets scored in the third quarter.
After Rodgers hit Lazard down the sideline for 26 yards, he found the receiver again three plays later after Leonard Floyd jumped offside for a 36-yard touchdown.
The history with Rodgers is, in essence, why Lazard is a Jet — and it took just one game of him at quarterback to start seeing it pay off.
“His mindset and where he is, is so much different from a year ago,” coach Robert Saleh said. “Where last year that drop on the first third down probably would have caved his whole game. But he still grinded in the run game. … And then for him to be able to produce in the pass game was awesome.”
The Jets only held a walk-through instead of a full practice on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, Michael Carter II (ankle) and D.J. Reed (knee) would have been limited had there been practice.
Saleh said neither are concerns for Sunday’s game.
Former Jets safety Jamal Adams, who missed Week 1 for the Titans with a hip injury, was a full participant in their Wednesday practice.
There’s been no movement on Haason Reddick’s holdout, Saleh said.
Asked whether the defensive line struggles against the Niners increased the urgency to get something done, the coach said the lack of pressure on Brock Purdy was mostly due to the quarterback getting the ball out quickly.
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