The Jets have opened the practice window for wide receiver Allen Lazard and offensive guard Wes Schweitzer to return from injured reserve, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
Lazard landed on injured reserve at the end of October due to a chest injury after a solid start to the year. With 412 yards and five touchdowns in seven games, he already surpassed his 2023 production and was on pace for career-highs in both categories. Lazard was also leading the Jets’ receivers with a 63.6% receiving success rate and still made four catchs for 58 yards in Davante Adams‘ Jets debut despite the increased competition for targets.
Schweitzer was placed on injured reserve before Week 1 with a hand injury, his second year in a row with an IR stint after appearing in just six games in 2023. He started two games at right guard, plus fill-in duties at center and right guard in Week 8, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The Jets are currently 3-9 with virtually no chance of making the playoffs, so returns from Lazard and Schweizter won’t have much of an impact. Lazard is still under contract for 2025 and 2026 but has no guaranteed money remaining on his deal, so he could be a cap casualty in the offseason. Schweizter, meanwhile, is set to be a free agent after this season. While neither player can change the course of the Jets’ season, returning to the field could be crucial for both players’ value in free agency this offseason.
Both Lazard and Schweizter will have three weeks to practice with the team before they must be activated to the 53-man roster or revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Why even bother?
Exactly my first thought when I saw this headline.
To see if they still fit moving forward and to help a veteran secure some additional money next season if they turn them loose. Reps are reps and you only get so many to show what you can still do especially coming off an injury.
They don’t
Once again, you took the words right out of my mouth haha
There’s zero point. Both are known commodities and nothing is changing for them contract-wise based on q few weeks of play. Using them won’t help a team who should be actively tanking anyway.
Thank goodness Lazard is back. When he is held to 2 or 3 catches a game, they have won this year. No more than that.
That’s the secret.
As long as Aaron is happy to play with his friends, that’s more important than winning.
Maybe. Rodgers wasn’t that kind of guy in Green Bay, however.
This will be the move that finally turns it around.