The New York Jets raised a few eyebrows before kickoff on Sunday with their surprising decision to make Allen Lazard inactive for their Week 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
At first glance, it looked like little more than a performance-based decision, with practice squad elevation Tyler Johnson taking his place in the starting lineup, but the timing and context suggest there may be more to the story.
After all, this wasn’t just any season opener — it was Aaron Rodgers’ highly anticipated Steelers debut against his former team. By holding onto Lazard but keeping him off the field, the Jets may have prevented the veteran wideout from reuniting with Rodgers on Pittsburgh’s sideline right away.