Allen Lazard came to the Jets as a trusted receiver for Aaron Rodgers, but the former Packer finally found some needed chemistry with Zach Wilson on Sunday night against the Chiefs.
Lazard had totaled only 108 receiving yards in his first three games for the Jets, but he totaled a game-high 61 on three receptions in Sunday’s 23-20 loss, including a game-tying touchdown reception in the third quarter.
Rodgers was in attendance and on the sidelines on crutches during pregame warm-ups before watching the game from a luxury suite.
Wilson posted his strongest game of the season since replacing Rodgers, who suffered a torn left Achilles on the fourth offensive snap of the season in Week 1 against the Bills.
The former No. 2 overall draft pick finished the game 28-for-39 — his most completions in one game in his career — for 245 yards and two touchdowns.
One of the scoring plays was to Lazard, who found the end zone for the first time this season on a 10-yard strike over the middle with 10:40 left in the third quarter.
Wilson scrambled and dove for the end zone to complete the two-point conversion to pull the Jets even, 20-20 after trailing by 17-0 in the first half.
Earlier on that drive, Wilson also had connected with Lazard for 12 yards for a first down.
Lazard also grabbed a key 39-yard catch down the right sideline on a field-goal drive in the second quarter.
The 27-year-old Lazard was Rodgers’ teammate for five seasons in Green Bay before signing a four-year contract worth $44 million with the Jets in March.
With Rodgers sidelined since early in the season opener, Lazard didn’t produce much over his first three games this season, with only seven receptions on 13 targets for 108 yards and no touchdowns.