NFL Rumors: Jets’ Allen Lazard placed on IR with chest injury, sidelined for at least 4 games | News, results, highlights, stats and gossip

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard will miss at least four games after being placed on injured reserve with a chest injury, NFL Network reports Ian Rapoport reported.

Lazard was already sidelined following last Sunday’s Week 8 loss to the New England Patriots, and will now miss Thursday’s Week 9 game against the Houston Texans.

Given the Jets’ Week 12 bye, the earliest he will be able to return is December 8 for the Week 14 game against the Miami Dolphins.

The experienced wide receiver had 30 catches for 412 yards and a team-high five touchdowns in seven games. Davante Adams will likely receive more targets from Aaron Rodgers in his absence.

Adams, acquired prior to Week 7 from the Las Vegas Raiders, has totaled seven catches for 84 yards so far and has yet to record a touchdown in two games as a Jet.

His production has dropped in part because of Rodgers, who is struggling with a 2.5% steal rate, allowing him to record the highest turnover rate of his career.

With Lazard injured, Rodgers and Adams will have to continue to work on their chemistry by working on the previous connections they made as teammates with the Green Bay Packers.

Lazard’s absence means Mike Williams could also see an increase in his efficiency after just one catch for 15 yards in the Jets’ last three games.

Williams played a larger role for the Jets earlier this season when he caught 10 passes for 145 yards as the No. 3 option behind Garrett Wilson and Lazard. He could now fill a similar role behind Wilson and Adams.

Lazard is entering his second season with the Jets after spending the first five years of his career with the Green Bay Packers. He didn’t exercise before week 8 and then he did again inactive Week 9 is approaching.

The Jets dropped to 2-6 on the season after Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, which puts them at the bottom of the AFC East. The team will rely on Wilson and Adams while also relying on Breece Hall for their ground attack as they look to salvage their playoff hopes and end their five-game losing streak with a victory over the Texans.