Davante Adams pulled up lame within the closing minutes of the Las Vegas Raiders’ follow Thursday, grabbing his hamstring with an harm that was anticipated to sideline the star large receiver on a week-to-week foundation, league sources instructed ESPN.
The Raiders did not attempt to faux Adams might play Sunday in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, ruling him out Friday in an indication this might flip right into a multiweek absence.
As one supply instructed ESPN this weekend, large receivers and hamstring accidents aren’t an excellent mixture. Eagles large receiver A.J. Brown injured his hamstring the Friday earlier than Philadelphia’s Week 2 recreation in opposition to Atlanta and can sit out his third consecutive recreation Sunday.
The Raiders already had been within the midst of a tumultuous week by which they mulled however finally opted in opposition to a beginning quarterback change. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce mentioned he was going to be making some “enterprise selections” earlier than dropping Adams and Professional Bowl defensive finish Maxx Crosby to accidents.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Crosby was coping with a excessive ankle sprain he suffered close to the top of the Raiders’ Week 2 win at Baltimore, and he tried to play by the harm throughout final Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Pierce instructed reporters after an embarrassing 36-22 loss at residence that he thought “there have been undoubtedly some people that made enterprise selections, and we’ll make enterprise selections going ahead as properly.”
These feedback led to hypothesis the Raiders would contemplate buying and selling Adams, however that’s not presently an possibility — nor was it final summer season.
The Raiders rejected a number of groups that approached them over the summer season, inquiring whether or not Adams could be obtainable in a commerce, in accordance with league sources. The Raiders thought-about an Adams commerce a nonstarter and turned away at the least two groups earlier than a suggestion might even be made, in accordance with sources.
As for the quarterback place, the Raiders opted to stay with veteran incumbent Gardner Minshew over Aidan O’Connell. However the quarterback competitors has been so shut all through coaching camp and even this season, that Minshew will get the beginning in opposition to the Browns, however O’Connell might be referred to as on any time, in accordance with league sources.
Sources across the crew mentioned they believed Minshew would maintain onto the job so long as he performed properly and the crew received.
With Adams sidelined, Minshew should lean on different cross catchers akin to Jakobi Meyers and rookie tight finish Brock Bowers in opposition to Cleveland.
The Raiders are used to adjusting to life with out Adams. After they had been taking part in within the preseason final summer season, Adams was away from the crew to be along with his pregnant spouse, who gave delivery to the couple’s first son.
“Collectively, no one must be Davante Adams,” Pierce mentioned Friday. “I do not want one other Davante. There’s just one, proper? I simply want the most effective model of Jakobi Meyers.
“We’ll see what occurs come Sunday, however we actually really feel [positive] giving these guys the final 12 hours and now at the moment, tomorrow to prepare for the sport.”
Adams has 18 catches for 209 yards and a landing by three video games. He final sat out a recreation in 2021, with the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Bowers, the Raiders’ first-round draft choose at No. 13 total, leads all NFL tight ends with 18 catches for 197 yards and a landing and figures to be much more concerned.
ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez contributed to this report.
