After listing receiver Allen Lazard as a healthy scratch ahead of Week 12, Jets coach Robert Saleh offered a stern message on the veteran’s standing with the team following Friday’s 34–13 loss to the Dolphins.
A slow start to the 2023 season resulted in a shocking decision by Saleh to include Lazard, who signed a four-year deal worth $44 million in the offseason, among New York’s seven inactives prior to the game. When asked for an explanation post-game, Saleh proceeded to put the six-year veteran on notice about his lackluster play thus far.
“Allen was down, obviously my decision,” Saleh said of the move. “There’s things that we all need to get better at, including him. He’s going to be here for a long ti–for the next year and a half, he’s going to be a part of this.”
Saleh followed his curious correction regarding the wideout’s role by adding his interest in getting “some of the younger guys an opportunity to play” as another factor behind the decision. He then shared a third reason citing an effort to motivate Lazard in hopes that he’ll return to form.
“It’s kind of a challenge to see if he can recapture the edge in who he is and the person that we have a lot of faith in. He’s a good football player, I do believe that, but for Allen, you know, he’ll be back sooner rather than later,” said Saleh, He later corrected his use of the word edge, to say he hasn’t been playing up his standard.
Although it remains to be seen when Lazard will bounce back, the 27-year-old will have a few more opportunities to get back in Saleh’s good graces with six games remaining on the Jets’ schedule.
In his first season in New York following five years with the Packers, Lazard has logged 20 receptions, with seven dropped passes, for 290 yards and one touchdown.
Wow… #Jets HC Robert Saleh officially put WR Allen Lazard on notice following the #Dolphins game talking to @JosinaAnderson:
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) November 24, 2023
‘Obviously my decision [to make him a healthy scratch], he’s going to be here for the next year & a half’ 🧐 Lazard signed a 4-year deal for $44 million… pic.twitter.com/PzCXDdIWRl
