Late Injury Could Make the Jets Start Unexperienced Receivers Against the Chargers

The New York Jets could be without their second-leading wide receiver against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football.

After practicing fully on Thursday and Friday, Allen Lazard showed up on the official injury report Saturday. The 6-foot-5 pass-catcher’s availability in Week 9 is listed as questionable due to a knee issue.

Lazard, who signed a four-year free-agent contract with the Jets this past March, has appeared in all seven games while logging 86 percent of the offensive snaps thus far this season. After leading the Green Bay Packers in receiving last year, he ranks second on the Jets with 255 receiving yards in 2023.

Lazard’s impact was felt in the Week 8 win over the New York Giants. The 27-year-old veteran made a 29-yard reception to advance the ball to the opponent’s 17-yard line and set up Greg Zuerlein’s game-tying field goal at the end of regulation.

“Allen [Lazard] doing a great job separating and everyone getting set super quick. It was flawless,” said quarterback Zach Wilson of Lazard’s catch and the focus that allowed the Jets to stop the clock with 00:01 remaining in the eventual 13-10 overtime victory.

Should Lazard be unable to go on Monday, the Jets’ receiving corps will include only one player who has more than two years of NFL experience. Amongst a Lazard-less unit, second-year pro Garrett Wilson and 33-year-old Randall Cobb are the lone men to appear a in a game prior to this season.

After Wilson and Cobb, the Jets’ WR options consist solely of undrafted youth. Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee are UDFA rookies while Irv Charles is a second-year player who spent 2022 on the Practice Squad.

Gipson has been up for all seven games thus far. Brownlee made his NFL debut against the Giants last week while Charles has logged two appearances this season. The four career catches amongst the trio all belong to Gipson.

Gang Green could opt to elevate Malik Taylor from the Practice Squad for the second week in a row. Taylor, who played 25 games over two seasons with the Packers, has seven career receptions to his credit.

Second-year receiver Lance McCutcheon is also a gameday callup option. He played in 10 games as a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams but is still searching for his first NFL reception.