New York Jets receiver Allen Lazard has been activated off injured reserve and is set to play in his first game since injuring his chest in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins.
Such was Lazard's season; despite missing all this time, he's still second in receiving yards on the Jets roster (412). Now, he will look to build on that, but there is every chance that he will be on a pitch count in Miami.
With Lazard having a bounce-back season after a poor 2023, having to go on IR was a brutal blow for the receiver as his connection with Aaron Rodgers was giving the Jets offense some juice.
Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich has revealed the level of frustration Lazard felt at not being able to continue his early season form surge after a poor first season in New York.
“Definite frustration from his standpoint,” Ulbrich said. “He was having success, obviously him and Aaron have a long history and have a real connection, you see to and feel it when those two are on the field together. So, he wanted to keep building upon that connection and he was having a good year. Excited to get back into the fold and he’s looked good this past week.”
In Lazard's seven games prior to his chest injury, he surpassed 30 receiving yards in every game but one and had a 114-yard, one-touchdown game against the Buffalo Bills and backed that up with a 58-yard game in the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which was his last time on the field.
Now, with the Jets' season in the tank, Lazard gets the opportunity to try and finish the year off strong, having started it well, and his inclusion might give New York some juice as it looks to get some positive momentum building for the final push.
