Davante Adams has had a strong start in his first season as the Raiders’ go-to wide receiver. Adams, at 29, still looks like the five-time Packers Pro Bowler with 26 catches on 47 targets for 290 yards and 3 TDs in four games in 2022.
Following a blockbuster offseason trade, he swapped his long-time rapport with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay for a reunion with his former Fresno State QB Derek Carr in Las Vegas.
Adams told Sporting News adjusting to a new team has been smooth, but it can get better as Adams and Carr get comfortable with a complex Josh McDaniels offense that’s new to both.
“It’s kind of like riding a bike. but starting off in practice, we’re not game-planning,” Adams said. “The defenses are game-planning for me, so If I get one-on-one opportunities, it’s obviously going to be a lot easier to put points on the board and move the ball and pick up where he left off.
“The reality is, in games they don’t play us the same way and their objective is trying to take me away. The tough part is trying to establish the camaraderie through all the coverages we’re seeing. We’re still working through those kinks.”
MORE: How good were Derek Carr and Davante Adams at Fresno State?
Knowing Carr is trying to reheat his connection with Adams fast, defenses have indeed focused on taking away him early with double-teams and zone coverage, they are giving that treatment to talented tight end Darren Waller at times, too.
The Raiders, at 1-4, have needed the element of ace slot receiver Hunter Renfrow and his established chemistry with Carr to create more favorable coverage looks for Adams. They have missed that the past two weeks with Renfrow missing time with a concussion suffered at the end of the Week 2 overtime loss to the Cardinals.
“He’s obviously a critical part of this offense and this team and we’re looking forward to that,” Adams said. “But we have that next-man-up mentality. Everybody’s got to do their job.”
The Raiders were able to beat the Broncos 32-23 at home in Week 4, riding a dominant running game with Josh Jacobs. That was on the heels of frustrating losses to the Chargers (24-19), Cardinals (29-23) and Titans (24-22).
Adams knows that based on those close results, the Raiders expect to be near a breakthrough.
“We haven’t had the start to the season we should have, based on the roster that we have. We’ll use our first win to build momentum and get better moving forward,” Adams told SN. “We’ve lost three games by a total of 13 points. It’s not like we were getting our ass kicked every week. We weren’t playing our best ball. We had opportunities to win every single one of those games.”
Why the Raiders fell short on the scoreboard was often settling for field goals. Kicker Daniel Carlson has been outstanding in going 12-for-12, but consider 10 of those conversions have been on attempts of fewer than 40 yards.
“If we can put the ball in the end zone a couple more times when we get down there in the red zone, it’s not like we can’t be efficient as an offense,” Adams said. “We’re trying to score as much as the opportunities that are given.”
MORE: How the Raiders acquired Davante Adams from the Packers
Adams talked to Sporting News on behalf of Tide Hygenic Clean, which helps breaks the myth that “lucky” jerseys can still be washed and keep all the luck. He also shared some of his pregame superstitions from playing in both Green Bay and Las Vegas.
“I don’t have any that are crazy. I don’t know if it’s a superstition, but it’s just a routine that I wear the same thing in every game: wristband, cleats, gloves and my ankle socks, and I wear my socks the same way, in Green Bay and here.
“I also eat the same thing every gameday. I had a salmon salad really early in my career before one of the games. It was my first time having that, and I had a big game. I just kept that deal going and it’s been working for me since then.”
With the Packers, Adams was involved in facing the NFC North archrival Bears twice a season. With the Raiders, there might be a similar feel in facing the Chiefs in AFC West play, but part of Adams’ elite success is never changing his competitive mind-set.
“We look at every game like a rivalry. I’m obviously new to this team and this division, so I don’t know much about the history of it and all that. It’s a rivalry every time we get on the field,” Adams said. “i don’t look at it like we want to beat them more than the next team. I want to win the game regardless and try to impose my will on that team.”
MORE: How Davante Adams’ 2022 stats compare to Packers WRs
Another thing that hasn’t changed for Adams going from Green Bay in the Upper Midwest to Las Vegas in the Southwest is the warm receptions from the home team faithful. Given how he arrived as a superstar Raider, he’s become an even hotter fan favorite.
“It’s a really good feeling to know that’s how the fan base feels about me. They’re excited about me being here, so I’m going out there to give something good to watch every week. That’s been my standard for a long time,” Adams said.
“Having started my career in Green Bay, it was a different type of feel. They kind of watched me blossom into the player and person I am now. Going to a place where all they know is the current state of that journey, it’s a little bit more of an uproar when I come on the field.”
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