Who Should I Start? Allen Lazard or Jalen Coker

Tuesday, August 12, 12:32 PM

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (shoulder) will be out for a couple of weeks as he tends to his shoulder injury, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Lazard will now most likely miss the rest of the preseason after picking up a right-shoulder injury in the preseason opener last weekend against the Green Bay Packers. Depending on how the 29-year-old recovers, he could be in danger of missing the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September as well. For a player that struggled with drops last year and is competing for a starting role in 2025, this isn't exactly great news. With Lazard out for a couple weeks, it will give Tyler Johnson a leg up as he looks to lock down the WR3 role in New York behind Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds. Lazard had 37 catche for 530 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games (10 starts) last year with the Jets.

Monday, August 11, 3:58 PM

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Monday that wide receiver Jalen Coker has been "one of the more reliable" targets for quarterback Bryce Young thus far. Specifically, Canales was asked if the second-year wideout is on the roster bubble, to which he replied, "We're gonna play the best guys." Canales added that "if he keeps showing up the way he has, he's going to be on the field playing." The 23-year-old isn't slotted in with the starting group of wide receivers on Carolina's unofficial depth chart, although it's possible that changes. Despite Coker's standing on paper, teammate Adam Thielen is nearing the end of his career, and Xavier Legette still has to show improvement. It isn't unreasonable to think Coker will have an expanded role in 2025, especially after flashing last season. Still, he'll have to leapfrog one of his aforementioned teammates in the hierarchy.