Steelers Now
Former New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard has cleared waivers and is free to sign with any team. Could Lazard reunite with Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh? It has worked out for Marquez Valdes-Scantling so far.
Lazard played with Rodgers at two stops in career, first with the Green Bay Packers form 2018-22, and the following Rodgers to the Jets in 2023.
Lazard was not been a big piece of the puzzle for the Jets this season and has also been a healthy scratch. He’s played in 10 games and made two starts, but had been targeted just 18 times. He has 10 catches for 70 yards and one touchdown on the season.
The Steelers have been revamping their wide receiver position with veterans over the last two weeks. They first signed Valdes-Scantling to their practice squad in November, and he made his debut two weeks ago against the Baltimore Ravens. MVS had his first touchdown with the Steelers in Monday night’s win over the Miami Dolphins.
The Steelers also claimed anther veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen off waivers two weeks ago, putting the two veterans into the lineup in back to back weeks. Thielen and MVS have not put up big numbers, but they’ve made a noticeable difference when it comes to leadership. Rodgers said the team has practiced a lot better since the embarrassing Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Lazard, 29, finished fifth on the Jets in targets in 2024 and third among wide receivers, behind only Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. He caught 37 of 60 targets for 530 yards and six touchdowns.
Originally an undrafted free agent of the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Iowa State in 2018, Lazard joined the Packers in December of his rookie season. He broke out in 2020, making 35 catches for 477 yards and three touchdowns. He and Rodgers developed a quick rapport, and that carried over in 2023, when he left the Packers to join Rodgers on the Jets.
Rodgers praised Valdes-Scantling, Thielen, Kenneth Gainwell, Connor Heyward and Asante Samuel Jr. in his postgame press conference after the win over Miami. Could Lazard be the latest castoff to sign with the Steelers?
“There’s some castoffs if you look at our roster, which makes it really special,” Rodgers said. “Kenny Gainwell signed a next-to-nothing contract. Connor Heyward, an afterthought, had a touchdown run. Marquez has been on a couple teams. Adam Thielen got cut. Samuel was on the street for a long time. So says a lot about the character of the guys we brought in.”
Alan Saunders contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Aaron Rodgers’ former Teammate Clears Waivers, Should Steelers Be Interested?
