Allen Lazard’s resurgence continues under Aaron Rodgers’ Jets return

Aaron Rodgers found a familiar face for his first home TD as a Jet. 

Allen Lazard, who looks rejuvenated with Rodgers healthy, hauled in a screen and darted 10 yards for the score in the opening quarter of Thursday night’s 24-3 breeze over the Patriots. 

Instead of celebrating, Lazard immediately ran to Rodgers to hand him the ball as a keepsake — a symbolic moment to contrast the quarterback’s last appearance at MetLife, when his Achilles ruptured and Gang Green’s season was detonated on the fourth snap of Game 1 in 2023. 

Lazard was a disaster last season without Rodgers.

He managed just 23 receptions on 49 targets and 311 yards, falling off precipitously from his previous campaigns with the Packers, where Rodgers was under center. 

Lazard, who joined the Jets on a four-year, $44 million contract that was viewed as an appeasement to Rodgers, was even deactivated in the final two games of last season. 

But he’s predictably been better for these Jets (2-1).

The 28-year-old already has three touchdowns, two more than last season.

His score Friday was an amusing sight because Lazard’s compression undershirt stretched roughly 8 yards behind him in the hand of New England CB Alex Austin, who missed the tackle but didn’t let go of the white shirt. 

It looked like Lazard had a giant tail. 

He then grabbed a 27-yard reception on the following Jets drive, which ended with a 1-yard TD rush from Breece Hall to give Gang Green a 14-0 advantage in the second quarter. 

Lazard finished with three receptions for 48 yards and the TD, while Rodgers was exquisite with 281 yards on 27 of 35 passing, two TDs and zero interceptions. 

“I mean, [Lazard’s] been in the league a while. He’s been productive for a while,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said earlier this season. “His mindset and where he is is so much different than a year ago. … You can put him anywhere on the football field from an alignment standpoint, which just gives us great flexibility.” 

After their TD connection Thursday, Rodgers embraced Lazard with a hug — which was only noteworthy because the QB appeared to forcefully reject a hug from Saleh later in the game. 

The ball was handed from Lazard to Rodgers and marked as “Rodgers first TD at MetLife.” It was another moment the former Packers could share. 

And Lazard knows why he’s better this season — the upgrade over Zach Wilson. 

“Aaron Rodgers,” he said last week. “Yep, it’s pretty simple.”