The Las Vegas Raiders have given a relieving update about the injury status of wide receiver Davante Adams, who exited practice on Friday with an apparent right leg issue. Head coach Josh McDaniels said he didn't believe the problem was severe.
During a joint-training session with the San Francisco 49ers, Adams collided with cornerback Charvarius Ward and limped off the field after trainers examined him. "Bang bang. Totally clean on both sides," McDaniels said.
Adams led the Raiders with 100 receptions for 1,516 yards last year, his first with the organisation after spending eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He has made six consecutive Pro Bowl rosters and is considered one of the NFL's best pass catchers. The 30-year-old's health is paramount to any success Las Vegas experiences this year under new starter Jimmy Garoppolo, who signed with the team after it released Derek Carr.
After initially opposing the front office's Garoppolo move — Adams told The Ringer that he didn't "see eye-to-eye on what we think is best for us right now" — the Fresno State product has been willing to move on from what he had hoped would be a long-term pro partnership with Carr, his college teammate.
"I'm ecstatic to get to work with the new guys, and Jimmy's a great guy, love him to death," Adams said. "I didn't know him very well before he got here."
New England Patriots warned Mac Jones is "limited" as quarterback fined againGaroppolo enjoyed throwing to Adams earlier in training camp, and their chemistry seemed to come together before Friday's injury setback. "We came out in the same draft class," Garoppolo said. "I always watched Davante, always thought he was one of the best in the league if not the best. It's just as a quarterback it gives you a sense of relief almost to have a guy like that."
"On one of the routes I threw him, I asked him if he was going full speed. Because he's just so smooth, man, it looks effortless. I thought I overthrew him on one of the deep balls and he ended up getting to it.
"So, it was just things like that. It's a luxury as a quarterback to have a guy like that. I just got to get used to it. It was really cool and I'm glad to have him."
Spectators have struggled to get a good view of the Raiders' open practices this offseason, with a "paranoid" McDaniels doing everything he can to obstruct their view. The coach, who learned from secretive New England Patriots leader Bill Belichick, wants to keep as much information as possible in-house.
Still, reporters saw Adams sit on a cooler with his head down in apparent pain as trainers continued to check on him. The Athletic reports that he put a leg sleeve on his right shin before disappearing from view.
The receiver has avoided serious leg injuries in his NFL career, with most of his missed time stemming from concussions. He played in all 17 games last season.