Longtime teammate shares warning to NFL about Aaron Rodgers

Wide receiver Allen Lazard first played alongside quarterback Aaron Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers from 2018-22 and expected to do so again with the New York Jets last season before Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into New York's Week 1 game.

Lazard recently spoke with Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post about how Rodgers looked this summer coming off such a serious injury at the age of 40.

"He’s somewhere in between amazing and excellent," Lazard said about Rodgers. "Maybe magnificent."

Rodgers won MVP in the 2020 and 2021 campaigns but wasn't the same dominant force after he suffered a broken thumb on his throwing hand in Week 5 of the 2022 season. He later dealt with a rib injury following a hit he took in Week 12 of that same campaign, and he was slowed by some calf issues during his first offseason as a member of the Jets.

By all accounts, Rodgers impressed onlookers and teammates throughout training camp this summer before head coach Robert Saleh decided to keep the future Hall of Famer sidelined for all of New York's three preseason games.

"He’s as good as he’s ever been, honestly," Lazard said about Rodgers. "I don’t want to hype him up too much or anything, but … "

Lazard didn't need to finish his point, as it's no secret the Jets are a win-now team with Rodgers in the twilight of his career. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Jets as the betting favorites at +165 odds to claim the AFC East division title this season.

It's unknown if Gang Green simply ending the longest active playoff drought among the four major North American sports leagues would be enough for Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas to hold onto their jobs.

Meanwhile, much has been made about how Lazard and New York's offense struggled last season without Rodgers. Specifically, Lazard tallied just 23 receptions for 311 yards and one touchdown over 14 games.

"It was a difficult year," Lazard acknowledged. "It was tough just from the fact that up until last year, I worked my whole career to get that stability and security. I came to a new city with new adventures, kind of feeling like I’m finally got to this check in my life…and then obviously the season is what the season was."

If New York's 2024 season mirrors its 2023 campaign, Lazard could be among current members of the organization shown the door in early 2025.