The Jets will place WR Lazard on IR, planning to bring up K Patterson

Lazard is tied to a four-year, $44 million deal that included $22 million guaranteed at signing. The Jets did a lot to appease Rodgers, adding three of his former Packers pass receivers (Lazard, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams).

Lazard was the first of them to arrive, after communicating with his Packers teammate of four years about playing together for the Jets. That coordinated effort preceded Rodgers’ Achilles rupturing four games last season, and Lazard bottomed out, reaching healthy scratch status at one point and finishing with just 311 receiving yards.

This year, Lazard has already racked up 420 yards and five touchdowns. Receiving the most guaranteed money of any receiver in last year’s FA class, Lazard didn’t justify his contract. But he’s back to being a useful player alongside Rodgers, as is unlike a marginal sunk cost a Zach Wilson-centered crime. There are two non-guaranteed years left on Lazard’s deal.

Williams has emerged as a commercial face since the Jets’ pursuit of Adams with this effort starting in earnest at intra-AFC trade being completed. Williams struggled mightily in New York, recording just 160 yards on 11 receptions though eight games.

Williams, 30, could still be moved. But with this Jets regime on thin ice, it would also make sense for the team to now sit tight at receiver to see if the former Chargers 1,000-yard weapon could be useful as a WR3 alongside Adams and Garrett Wilson. The Jets will send Williams one more time on Thursday and you have until Tuesday to decide whether to move on.

Plus, the Jets got their pick Greg Zuerlein complete. Riley Patterson will be up for Thursday’s game against the Texans, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero Tweets. By far the most experienced of the two kickers Gang Green added to its practice squad (Spencer Shrader being the other), Patterson will get another shot after being waived twice — by the Jaguars and Chiefs — this year.

Patterson served as the Jaguars’ kicker throughout the 2022 season and was the Lions’ top option for most of the ’23 roster. The Lions cut Patterson a second time, though, pivoting to Michael Badgley in season. Patterson snagged the Jags on the backup/futures deal, but ended up being waived — following team decision Cam Little sixth-round pick — and then Washington’s washout after a shaky preseason.

Patterson played in 39 career games; made 15 of 17 field goals last season. Zuerlein, who is on IR with a knee injury, is just 9-for-15 this year.