HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders Coach Antonio Pierce deflected questions during his weekly news conference Wednesday about the news surrounding the All-Pro wide receiver.Davante Adams‘exchange request and the The Raiders’ willingness to take care of it.
“Davante is dealing with a hamstring,” Pierce said of Adams, who, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, is not expected to play in Championship Sunday. Denver Broncos (2-2) due to his injury.
“He’s in rehab and the rest of us are focused on Denver.”
As the Raiders (2-2) prepared for the Broncos game, Pierce was asked if Adams would be in the facility Wednesday.
“He’s supposed to be in rehab,” Pierce said.
Asked about his verified Instagram account like a Sports Illustrated article Two days earlier (which was later deleted), wondering if Adams had played his last game with Las Vegas, Pierce said, “Yeah, I’m just focused on Denver.”
Pierce, who missed Sunday’s win against the Cleveland Browns With his injury, he was then asked about the status of his relationship with Adams and Pierce responded, “Me and Davante talk a lot.”
The last time he spoke with Adams?
“I’ll leave that between me and Davante,” Pierce said.
At the top of Adams’ business wish list are New York Jets And New Orleans Saintsleague sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, as Adams would like to reunite with a quarterback he has played with in the past — Aaron Rodgersfor eight seasons with the Green Bay PackersAnd Derek Carrat Fresno State University and for a season with the Raiders.
Adams has really only had Carr and Rodgers at quarterback since high school. But since Carr was benched and then released by Las Vegas after the 2022 season, Adams has caught passes from Jarrett Stidham, Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer, Aidan O’Connell And Gardner Minshew.
Still, Pierce insisted he and the team were focused on Denver.
“It starts with me, because that’s my only focus,” Pierce said. “I’m paid here to prepare every week against the opponent. I don’t blink. I don’t flinch. I don’t know, I’ve said it before, I’ve lived my life enough. Adversity and all that, it doesn’t bother me, I’m moving forward.
“The next obstacle in front of me is the Denver Broncos, and that’s what I presented to my team and that’s what they’re doing right now in the meeting room. We’re on the verge to practice and do it against the Broncos.
It was a solemn atmosphere in the Raiders locker room after practice and no, Adams wasn’t there during media access.
“We have to focus on the task at hand with who we have here,” the quarterback said Gardner Minshew said. “Obviously, everyone understands the Davante situation and we all love Davante. But understand that he has to make the best decision for him, our team has to make the best decision for us – we have to keep moving forward and try to understand . how to win matches.
Minshew shook his head when asked if not having Adams last weekend gave the Raiders a sense of security, given the relative quality of the offense.
“You always want great players on your team and that’s the way he is,” Minshew said of Adams. “I learned so much from him. I think we’re still figuring out who we are with him. But no, man, I love having him there. I hope I get him back, but whatever he’s coming, you know?”
Jacob Meyers will continue to slide into Las Vegas’ WR1 role with Adams out.
“I played in some big moments,” Meyers said. “I’ve played before and had to pull a lot of weight before. So until we can figure out what’s going on, I’m just going to keep my head down and hopefully we can do it together .
“I’m going to continue to be myself. That’s all I can do. Whatever they throw at me, I’ll be ready. I’ll handle it like I always do. But continue to be me, that’s on.”
Meyers acknowledged that the Adams situation “is going to be a distraction,” but “it is what it is. We understand that. It’s just, really, about playing, whatever. Whatever it is. we…are struck. Compartmentalize and move forward.”
The tone Pierce, who took over as interim coach last Nov. 1 and was hired full-time in January, is trying to set this week, then?
“It’s business as usual, you just have to keep going,” he said. “It’s the NFL, things happen every day. Since I took over this job, there have been obstacles. This is another one.”
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