Jets benched one of their highest-paid players in Week 1

The New York Jets made a surprising decision with one of the highest-paid players on their roster in Week 1.

Veteran wide receiver Allen Lazard was a healthy scratch on Sunday for the Jets’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Lazard is in the third season of a four-year, $44 million contract he signed with the Jets before the 2023 season. He had previously played with Aaron Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers, and New York likely signed him at the veteran quarterback’s request.

Rodgers tore his Achilles on the first offensive drive of the 2023 season, and Lazard wound up being benched late in the year because of his lack of production. He had 37 catches for 530 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games last year after Rodgers returned from his injury.

The Jets are not exactly loaded at wide receiver, which is part of the reason the Lazard scratch was unexpected. Garrett Wilson is New York’s No. 1 wideout ahead of Josh Reynolds, Tyler Johnson, Xavier Gipson and fourth-round rookie Arian Smith.