Robert Saleh: Allen Lazard “hasn’t been playing up to his standard”

[Nergal]

The player who signed a four-year, $44 milion deal as a free agent wasn’t available on Friday. Because the Jets — and specifically coach Robert Saleh — didn’t deem him to be good enough to play today.

“Obviously, my decision,” Saleh told reporters after the 34-13 loss. “There are things that we all need to get better at, including him. He is going to be here for the next year-and-a-half. He’s going to be a part of this. Just wanted to make sure that one, I wanted to get some of the young guys an opportunity to play; and two, it’s kind of a challenge to see if he can recapture the edge and who he is and the person that we have a lot of faith in. He’s a good football player. I do believe that. For Allen, he will be back sooner rather than later.”

Asked whether Saleh believes Lazard lost his edge, Saleh revised his message.

“Edge is probably the wrong word,” Saleh said. “I’m sorry. I’ll speak for him. He hasn’t been playing up to his standard. Everyone is pressing on that side of the ball to make something happen. There are parts of his game that need to get better.”

 

Under that standard, frankly, most of the team’s starting offense would have been inactive today, and most days. And it’s no surprise. The entire team was engineered for Aaron Rodgers. And Rodgers played four snaps. And with a record of 4-7, there’s no real point in Rodgers returning this season.

As to Lazard, the Jets have no choice but to keep him through 2024. After that, they’ll surely cut the cord. Until then, they’ll hope that Rodgers’s return next year will turn everything around.