Before he signed the largest contract given to a free-agent wide receiver last offseason and joined the Jets, Allen Lazard had to prove he belonged in the NFL.

He failed at first.

Lazard played 53 offensive snaps and 33 special teams snaps as an undrafted rookie with the Jaguars during the 2018 preseason, but didn’t show enough to beat the odds in the eyes of the coaches and front office.

He was cut and re-signed to the practice squad, where he idled for 15 weeks until he was claimed by the Packers.