Allen Lazard is free to reunite with Aaron Rodgers. If the Steelers want him. And if he wants the Steelers.
The former Packers and Jets receiver cleared waivers on Wednesday, making him a free agent.
Because Lazard didn’t waive his right to termination pay in order to secure his release, Lazard will be entitled to recover the remaining $291,667 of his $1.75 million base salary from the Jets. He’ll also be able to keep whatever he makes elsewhere, without offset.
He spent five seasons in Green Bay with Rodgers. Lazard then signed with the Jets in 2023, the same offseason during which Rodgers was traded there.
Lazard renegotiated his contract to stay with the Jets, in lieu of being released and potentially joining Rodgers in Pittsburgh. Now, Lazard is free and clear to join the Steelers or any other team, at any time.
The Jets still have three games to play this season, but they got a head start on their offseason changes this week by firing defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
The move came a day after a 48-20 loss to the Jaguars that saw the Jags score on eight of their first nine possessions of the game. The Jets are 30th in the league in points allowed and they’ve only had two takeaways on defense all season, which is the kind of performance that linebacker Quincy Williams pointed to while responding to the news of Wilks’ ouster.
“I mean, it’s very unfortunate, but the reality is we weren’t playing good as a defense,” Williams said, via Dennis Waszak of the Associated Press. “And with him being the leader of the defense, I mean someone’s going to get it. Sad that it had to go down like that.”
Williams said it is up to players to “make the call come alive” while discussing their role in what’s gone wrong on defense this season and said he feels he’s having the worst season of his career. That’s not the best way to go into free agency, but that is where Williams finds himself as the season comes to an end and it means he may be following Wilks out the door soon.
In recent years, a trend has emerged as to vested veterans (those with four or more years of service) who seek an opportunity to exit a non-playoff team for a shot at joining a contender. To get his release, the player waives his right to secure the balance of his salary, without offset, as termination pay.
Former Jets receiver Allen Lazard did not do that, per a source with knowledge of the situation.
It gives him the ability, if he chooses, to collect the remaining $291,667 of his $1.75 million base salary from the Jets, double dipping with whatever he gets from a new team. If, of course, the balance of his contract isn’t claimed on waivers.
The obvious speculation is that Lazard hopes to land with the Steelers and two-time former teammate Aaron Rodgers. That could prompt a competitor (like, you know, the Ravens) to claim Lazard in order to prevent Pittsburgh from getting him.
Of course, that would require the Ravens to devote a spot on the 53-man roster to Lazard, which would in turn necessitate a corresponding roster move. Unless there’s someone the Ravens can place on injured reserve or are otherwise willing to waive, there wouldn’t be a spot for Lazard. Still, if they want to keep the team they’ll quite possibly face in 18 days (or 17, if the game is moved to Saturday night) for the AFC North title, they’ll at least consider finding a way to make room for Lazard.
If Lazard clears waivers, he’ll be able to sign with any other team’s roster or practice squad. And it will open the door to a double dip, with $291,667 from the Jets and whatever he gets from the Steelers or wherever he may land.
The Steelers worked out nine players on Tuesday.
The tryouts included two quarterbacks, Hendon Hooker and Jack Plummer, who threw to tight end J.J. Galbreath, tight end Colin Granger, wide receiver Johnny Johnson, wide receiver Brandon Smith and wide receiver Chris Tyree and handed off to running backs Tre Stewart and Jordan Waters.
Hooker spent time on the Panthers’ practice squad this season, but they released him last month.
The Lions drafted Hooker in the third round in 2023, when he was still recovering from a torn ACL. He spent his first two seasons in Detroit, appearing in three games.
Plummer also has spent time on the Panthers’ practice squad.
The Giants are parting ways with kicker Younghoe Koo.
According to multiple reports, they waived Koo on Tuesday. They also claimed linebacker Caleb Murphy off of waivers.
Koo opened the season with the Falcons, but was cut after Week 1 and joined the Giants’ practice squad. He appeared in the last five games and made 12 field goals before missing a pair of them in last Sunday’s loss to the Commanders. Koo’s most memorable play with the Giants also came on a field goal try, although it didn’t go on his stat line because he pulled up short of kicking a ball in a loss to the Patriots and holder Jamie Gillan was tackled for a 13-yard loss.
The Giants have also used Graham Gano and Jude McAtamney at kicker this season. They have Ben Sauls on their practice squad.
Murphy was waived by the Patriots on Monday after playing in five games for them. He also made six appearances for the Chargers this season.
