Raiders report: Davante Adams trade gives team closure
Coach Antonio Pierce made his feelings clear with a one-word answer when asked if Tuesday’s trade of star receiver Davante Adams to the Jets was a sign the Raiders were entering a rebuilding phase.
“No,” Pierce said bluntly at his Wednesday news conference in his first public comments since the trade was completed.
It’s a sentiment shared by star defensive end Maxx Crosby.
“I’m not here to rebuild,” he said. “I’m here to win. So I don’t know whatever (rebuilding) means. I’m here to win now, and wherever I’m going to be, I’m going to be here to win. That’s all that matters to me.”
Adams told the team two weeks ago he wanted to be traded, and he had missed the past three games because of, according to the injury report, a hamstring injury. The Jets said Wednesday that Adams will play when they meet the Steelers on Sunday night.
The Raiders have been blown out in each of the past two games with the Adams speculation looming, but Pierce said the trade does not impact the team’s mentality.
“Next man up,” he said. “Move on. He was out for the last two weeks, so we’re fine.
“Business as usual. That’s how we’ve been operating the last couple weeks.”
Still, it has been clear all the speculation has taken a toll. While a talented player such as Adams will be missed, the team can at least move on.
“It’s like putting a period on a weird situation instead of a comma or (an ellipsis),” wide receiver Jakobi Meyers said. “At least now we know what we’re working with. Hopefully everybody is happy and we can just make plays with what we’ve got.”
Meyers now will be the unquestioned leader in the receiver room and a primary target for quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who believes the team is ready to concentrate on the task at hand.
“I think obviously clarity is always good,” O’Connell said. “But I think more than that, we’ll just miss him. And obviously, like I said, we wanted him here. But business is business. I’m still learning that in my second year, and so all around the NFL, that’s how it goes. It’s not unique to us.”
New guy
On the same day they lost Adams, the Raiders added a new face when legendary quarterback Tom Brady was approved as a minority owner.
O’Connell is excited about what he might be able to learn from the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
“Obviously a great person to have an NFL building,” O’Connell said. “He’s someone who’s done it for so long at the highest level, and so you can learn a lot just in the things he says. … I know he’s pretty busy, but any time he’s got, I’ll definitely pick his brain.”
Meyers, as a rookie in 2019, played with Brady on the Patriots, catching 26 passes for 359 yards.
He said having Brady around will serve as an example for how much can be achieved through a relentless work ethic.
I think it’s inspirational, motivational, all of that,” Meyers said. “From late-round draft pick to owner of a team.”
Injury report
Crosby sat out practice with an ankle injury as the team tries to manage his reps throughout the week. He has played the past two games after missing one and is expected to play against the Rams on Sunday.
Meyers missed practice with an ankle injury that forced him to miss Sunday’s game against the Steelers, but the Raiders expect him to practice at some point this week.
Offensive tackle Kolton Miller (knee, shoulder) also missed practice. The bigger concern might be starting right guard Dylan Parham. A foot injury that caused him to leave Sunday’s game also kept him from practicing Wednesday, and he could miss time.
Linebackers Tommy Eichenberg (quad) and Kana’i Mauga (knee) also missed practice.
Running back Zamir White (groin) got in a limited session.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.