New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard has been out since Week 8 due to a chest injury. What’s the latest on a potential return to play for the long-time Aaron Rodgers teammate?
What Is Allen Lazard’s Injury?
It’s unclear when Lazard suffered this chest injury. He played in the Jets’ Week 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching four passes for 58 yards in the 37-15 loss on “Sunday Night Football.”
Lazard initially sat out the team’s Week 8 loss to the New England Patriots without going on injured reserve, as the team hoped this was a short-term injury. However, he was placed on IR before their subsequent Thursday night game against the Houston Texans.
The #Jets are placing WR Allen Lazard on Injured Reserve because of a chest injury, sources say. Aaron Rodgers’ good friend and trusted target is out at least four games. pic.twitter.com/STuJ5kllCU
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 31, 2024
That takes Lazard out of commission through at least Week 14, given that the Jets have a Week 12 bye.
When Will Lazard Return From Injury?
It’s been radio silence on Lazard news, though he’s still ineligible to be activated off IR. Still, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich had an ominous update last week that suggested Lazard may need more than the minimum IR stint.
Jeff Ulbrich said Allen Lazard's chest injury is a "strange one" and said it is a "weird range of time" to recover. Doesn't have a concrete timeline.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) November 1, 2024
We haven’t gotten any specifics as to the exact nature of Lazard’s injury. Something like a pectoral injury can be season-ending, but it’s not worth speculating about the specifics without a true sense of the severity.
At 3-6, the Jets are teetering on the brink of having their playoff hopes extinguished. Should New York continue its downward spiral before Lazard is ready to return, it’s conceivable a player like third-round rookie Malachi Corley could receive a longer look down the stretch.
How Has Lazard’s Absence Impacted the Packers?
Despite the missed time, Lazard is still tied for the team lead with five receiving touchdowns. His chemistry with Rodgers has led to an inexplicably large role at times this season, albeit mostly before the arrival of Davante Adams.
His value has largely been the result of his five touchdowns on the back of a 31.3% red-zone target rate, a role that he probably doesn’t have a prayer of sustaining with Adams in town and Garrett Wilson’s improving rapport with Rodgers.
The only good news is that Lazard has a clear path to playing time with Mike Williams traded to Pittsburgh. Given New York’s lack of wide receiver depth behind Adams and Wilson, it’s fair to expect Lazard to re-assume a regular share of his snaps.
Still, if you’re going to roster a hit-or-miss receiver like this, more offensive upside would be preferable to what the Jets have to offer with their WR3.
Even if Lazard returns fully healthy, he’s unlikely to start for many fantasy football teams, given his diminished role with Adams in the lineup. As Adams gets acclimated, it likely eats into Lazard’s target share.