The numbers paint an ugly picture, but New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard has seemingly put his disappointing 2023 performance behind him.
After catching fewer than 47 percent of receiving targets in the first season on the four-year contract he signed, Lazard looks nothing like the player who was a healthy scratch three times last year. He has made the plays, both routine and spectacular, throughout training camp and ended Thursday's joint practice against the New York Giants with a touchdown.
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"I think he's had a really nice camp. I'm really proud of him," said quarterback Aaron Rodgers after Tuesday's practice in Florham Park. "I think his leadership, as much as anything, has been great. I think he's conducted himself with a lot of humility, which is always some of the pie that you eat after a season you'd like to have gone differently. I'm really proud of the way he's responded. He's had a fantastic 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, which was the QB-WR duo's final season with Green Bay.
According to Rodgers, Lazard's resurgence can be traced to a change in demeanor that resembles the approach that allowed him to win a roster spot with the Packers years ago.
"I just liked Allen's approach, and I feel like he's kind of doing some of the grindy things that made him really successful in Green Bay. That's blocking and running some of the short routes over the middle, and as you've seen he's made a number of plays down the field," said Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP.
In addition to blocking and accepting more challenging route running assignments, the 6-foot-5 Lazard has also reportedly showed an 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 where I feel last year he may have felt above it, where this year I think he's just been on it. He's been on all the details in all phases and being a leader in the meeting rooms," said head coach Robert Saleh.
Rodgers is not the only person to notice Lazard's changed approach at 1 Jets Drive.
"Overall, I think he is a lot more positive, not that he was negative," said Saleh. "He's just in a really good place."
Lazard projects as the Jets' WR2 until Mike Williams returns to full strength. Also, with Rodgers back at the controls, he has the quarterback's trust. The stage is set for a bounce-back season.
