HENDERSON, Nev. — Raiders maestro Antonio Pierce, following Tuesday’s trade that sent three-time All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the Pristine York Jets, said it was “business as usual” for Las Vegas and no Vea the march as part of a “reconstruction.”
“Next man, move on,” Pierce said Wednesday, when asked what message he gave his group. “He was away for the last time [three] weeks, so we’re good. …That’s how we’ve really been operating for the last two weeks.
“You can never replace a totally professional catcher like Davante. But at the end of the day, we’re not trying to do that. We’re looking to be the best versions of ourselves.”
Adams missed the Raiders’ previous three games with a suspected hamstring injury and requested a trade on September 30, the day after Las Vegas beat the Cleveland Browns with Adams cheering from the sideline to match his record at 2-2.
However, the Raiders have lost their last two games, against the Denver Broncos and at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers, by a combined score of 66-31, while Adams remained away from the team. Adams, acquired by the Raiders in a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers in 2022, had 18 receptions for 209 yards and a touchdown in three games this season.
His hamstring is no longer an issue, and he was reunited with his former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Adams is expected to play for the Jets on Sunday night in Pittsburgh.
The Las Vegas locker room was anything but distraught Wednesday.
“He’s like a long in an unusual condition,” said receiver Jakobi Meyers, who takes over the WR1 role vacated by Adams even as he deals with an ankle injury that kept him out of the loss to the Steelers.
“Instead of a comma or a period, period, period. It doesn’t matter what you call it.”
An ellipsis?
“There we go, boy,” Meyers laughed. “But yes, at least now we know what we are working with. With confidence, everyone is happy and we will be able to produce plays with what we have been given.”
Rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who leads Las Vegas with 37 receptions for 384 yards, said the atmosphere is “a little different” now.
“I’m just missing that piece,” Bowers said. “But they’ve given us alternative guys here who are going to come forward, with confidence. And they’ve given us to heal a little bit with Jakobi and stuff, and we’re on target.”
Adams took a liking to Bowers in the offseason, referring to the solemn rookie as “Mr. Businessman” during workouts.
“It was ruthless, we were always calm,” Bowers said. “We’re clearly a modest couple because of the present gap and stuff, so we didn’t get to talk about differences, but we were cool and talked about football and stuff.”
Defensively, the Raiders said they will miss facing Adams in practice. Even if he missed as much time as he was available during the regular season.
“At least now we know what we are working with. With confidence, everyone is happy and we will be able to easily produce works with what we have been given.”
Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers
“That’s going to be a job I’ll miss, but I’ll be honest,” cornerback Jack Jones said. “We still have some good receivers to go against in practice.”
Three-time Professional Bowl defensive finalist Maxx Crosby said he will pass on Adams.
“Davante is my guy,” Crosby mentioned. “I love him to death. That’s really all I can say. You know, that’s my guy, but… I’m focused on who’s here now.”
Heading into training camp, many witnesses assumed Adams could be traded if the Raiders got off to a slow start.
Crosby was once asked if the stories surrounding Adams were a distraction.
“I mean, I don’t know,” Crosby mentioned. “I feel like it depends on how much you put into it.
“I see 1,000,000 things about myself all year long, and I don’t know if you think it’s a distraction or not. It’s just some shit that the family produces most of the year. So at the end of the presentation , I just want them more productive. “Like I said, I’m nervous for the guys that are here and win football games.”
