Robert Saleh says Allen Lazard not playing up to standards

The Jets signed wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million contract in free agency, including $22 million guaranteed. He was a healthy scratch in Week 12 of his first season.

The Jets made Lazard one of their inactive for Friday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, a game they would go on to lose 34-13 to fall to 4-7 on the season.

Head coach Robert Saleh shared an explanation after the game on why Lazard did not dress Friday.

“Allen was down, obviously my decision,” Saleh said, via Sports Illustrated. “There’s things that we all need to get better at, including him. He’s going to be here for a long time–for the next year and a half, he’s going to be a part of this.”

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Saleh added: “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.”

Lazard has caught just 20 passes this season for 290 yards. He is now fourth on the team in receiving, behind Garrett Wilson (651), Tyler Conklin (381) and Breece Hall (296).

The Jets are likely already committed to Lazard in 2024, probably why Saleh said “a year and a half”, as Lazard’s $10 million base salary for 2024 is already guaranteed. But so far, it’s another move in what was a big push this past offseason that has not worked out at all for the Jets in what continues to be a miserable season all around.