Aaron Rodgers has much respect for this wide receiver
The Green Bay Packers are figuring out their offense in the early regular season. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is working with little elite depth at wide receiver minus Davante Adams. The Packers’ best-skilled players are at running back. The transition initially was a little bumpy, but the team has started putting together nice drives in the past two weeks.
Allen Lazard’s return has helped to jumpstart the Packers’ offense. Lazard missed Week 1 with injury but has opened up space for the offense by catching the opposing defense’s attention in Weeks 2 and 3. He’s caught one touchdown in each game he’s played this season. Lazard’s presence has been noticeable to the audience watching.
Pat McAfee noticed the contribution Lazard made since he’s been back. On The Pat McAfee Show, McAfee asked Rodgers what Lazard has meant to the team. Rodgers gave a gushing response about the fifth-year veteran. Rodgers praised his skills as a person and as a football player who didn’t have an easy path to the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
“[Lazard] is the perfect teammate. He cares about it,” Rodgers said on the show. “He wants to be great, but he celebrates his teammates, and he does the dirty work. He’s always been a great blocker and he does it without complaint. He does it as a lead blocker. He does it on the backside. He’ll sift defensive ends. He has no fear out there, plays with an edge. And we love his approach.”
"Allen Lazard is the perfect teammate & he will always do the dirty work.. he's a fantastic player & I'm really proud of him" ~@AaronRodgers12#PMSLive #ART pic.twitter.com/gyC5wxZXRZ
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 27, 2022
This connection could be important later this season
Aaron Rodgers seems to trust Lazard on the field. And it’s not just his comments on the show that show his trust. The fact that Lazard has a touchdown in each appearance shows that Rodgers wants to get him the ball this season. With the Sammy Watkins injury depleting a unit that has a few rookies, Rodgers needs the stability that Lazard brings.
The two will have a chance to build on their early success this season. The Packers made the passing game a more pertinent part of the offense when the running game had issues in Week 3. Lazard has been rumored to be the next Packers’ number one wide receiver. He’ll have an excellent chance to claim that title next week against the New England Patriots.