BREAKING: SEAHAWKS’ AJ BARNER DECLARES HIS GOAL
“So that was the goal,” Seattle Seahawks TE AJ Barner said on being an elite tight end in this league. On Wednesday, during a post-practice press conference, a reporter asked him to follow up on some comments he’d made previously. The second-year tight end out of Michigan previously said he wants to be one of the NFL’s elite tight ends, and this reporter asked him when that dream started.
“Honestly, probably like in college at Michigan, and Indiana as well,” Barner responded. “Once I got to Indiana, people felt like I had a good chance to go to the NFL. And once I got to Michigan — and what my role was at Michigan — was kinda developing me for the NFL. And when I got here, I felt like I had the good combination of the blocking, the pass pro, the catching.”
“So that was the goal. And I think in my draft call I mentioned that. Anything that I do, I obviously want to be very talented at it. And again, I just feel like I have the talents to do that.”
The second-year pro was a fourth-round pick in 2024. Barner had 30 receptions for 245 yards and four touchdowns, and he’s taken a noticeable step forward this season. In five games, he has 14 receptions for 134 and four touchdowns.
Seattle Seahawks TE AJ Barner on how He Became a Tight End
“So I played linebacker for almost all my life, and I really wanted to play linebacker in college,” Barner said on how he came to play tight end. “And I tell people, ‘I think I can play linebacker in the league too,'” he said with a chuckle.
“But when I was getting recruited for college, it was just my size was — like I’m not going to be covering anyone man-to-man. So they switched me to tight end and it was just a great fit for me. But I still have those characteristics of a linebacker, and I think the defensive coaches know that here. So it serves me well. [Playing tight end] definitely wasn’t a tough sell, but I definitely did want to play linebacker for a long time.”
Barner started his college career at Indiana and spent two years there before transferring to Michigan for the 2023 season. At Michigan, he was primarily used as a blocker next to future first-round pick TE Colston Loveland. In his final collegiate season with the Wolverines, he had 22 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown.
Seattle Seahawks TE AJ Barner on What Being an Elite Tight End Means to Him
“I feel like when you watch the film and you see guys that do it play in and play out — and the techniques, like they’re moving guys off the ball, they’re not just position-blocking people,” Barner said. “And well-rounded in those phases as well, like you have tight ends that really don’t mix it up in the trenches, you have guys that are more just blockers, and you also have a lot of tight ends that do both.”
“I feel like the state of the NFL that it’s in, there’s some very talented players in this league, and especially in our division, too. The Rams got great tight ends, [49ers TE] George [Kittle], [Trey] McBride of the Cardinals. We watch all this tape right, and you see these guys on tape because we’re playing a lot of the same teams in the division. So there’s a lot of great tight ends in the league, but I think the guys that can do it all are those unicorns, I guess.”
“Right now I think I have a lot of work to do,” Barner said on where he ranks in that group. “But I think my ceiling is right up there with them. So I think I had a great game this week, and people are starting to take notice, but I think there’s a lot more for me to do.”
Jets’ Allen Lazard Sidelined with Shoulder Injury — ‘Two Weeks Off Isn’t Slowing Me Down’
The New York Jets will have to manage without veteran wide receiver Allen Lazard for the next two weeks after he suffered a shoulder injury during training camp. While the injury will keep him out of the remainder of the preseason, Lazard’s message to fans and teammates is clear—this is no reason to hit the panic button.
“Two weeks off isn’t slowing me down—it’s fueling me. I’ll come back sharper, faster, and ready to make every snap count,” Lazard told reporters after undergoing evaluation. The 28-year-old’s tone was confident, not cautious, reflecting the mindset of a player who has weathered the highs and lows of the NFL grind.
Lazard, who joined the Jets in 2023 after four productive seasons with the Green Bay Packers, has quickly become a key figure in the team’s passing attack. His chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, built over years in Green Bay, has been a valuable asset to New York’s offense. Losing him, even temporarily, presents a challenge—but not an insurmountable one.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh downplayed the severity of the injury, noting that the team’s medical staff expects Lazard to be ready for the regular season opener. “Allen’s a pro—he knows how to prepare his body, and he’s going to be ready when it matters most,” Saleh said.
The injury occurred during a contested catch drill in practice, where Lazard came down awkwardly after battling for the ball. While the team initially feared something more serious, further testing confirmed it was a minor shoulder strain—one that requires rest and rehab but not surgery.
For Lazard, the time away from the field will be spent studying film, working on conditioning, and staying mentally locked in. “Even if I’m not running routes right now, I’m still putting in the work. That way, when I’m cleared, there’s no rust—just readiness,” he said.
The Jets’ receiving corps will rely more heavily on players like Garrett Wilson and Mecole Hardman during Lazard’s absence, but his leadership will still be felt on the sidelines. Known for his blocking ability and toughness in traffic, Lazard’s return will be a welcome boost to both the passing and running game.
As the countdown to Week One begins, Jets fans can rest assured that their veteran wideout is not treating this as a setback, but as an opportunity to return stronger. And if Lazard’s words are any indication, those two weeks might just make him more dangerous than ever.
