Packers preach wait-and-see for Davante Adams (hamstring) vs. Saints
Green Bay Packers fans were irate after their team passed on a first-round wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft, instead trading up to acquire rookie quarterback Jordan Love. But Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was more disappointed than any fan, because he knew better than anyone how thin his team was at receiver.
And now their best receiver is injured. Davante Adams exited the Packers’ Week 2 win over the Detroit Lions with a hamstring issue (after earlier checking out to have his ankle examined), and Green Bay is being cautious with him ahead of their Week 3 prime-time game with the New Orleans Saints.
They aren’t going to make a decision any time soon; expect this one to draw out until pregame warmups. Adams himself is trying to remain patient after being held out from Wednesday’s practice session.
“It’ll probably be a decision that’s made later in the week most likely, just to get a full assessment, give me the full amount of time I need to get right, to a real comfortable spot,” Adams told Mike Spofford of Packers.com. “Obviously I don’t think we’re there just yet, but we’re making great strides on the way there.”
If Adams can’t play, the next-best receiver for Green Bay is Marquez Valdes-Scantling. “MVS” has gone 7-for-13 through the first two weeks, gaining 160 yards at a blistering 22.9 yards per completion. But his catch rate of just 53.8% speaks for his limited usage. He and No. 3 wideout Allen Lazard have combined for just two more targets (22) than Adams (20), who has caught three more catches than both of them.
Adams added, “It’s too early to tell. It’s feeling better. I think we’re making good progress every day. But we’re just going to wait it out and see.”
The last time New Orleans faced Adams, then-rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore limited him to a forgettable statline of 2 catches (on 5 targets) to gain 12 yards. It’s worth noting that Green Bay had Brett Hundley at quarterback in that 2017 game, not Rodgers, but it’s encouraging that Adams is someone Lattimore has beaten before.
Frankly, this feel much like the situation with Mike Evans in Week 1. Evans was limited in practice with a hamstring issue before his status was updated at the last minute. He didn’t have any luck against Lattimore, who didn’t allow a completion on 29 snaps played against Evans in coverage (though Evans did draw a 45-yard foul for defensive pass interference on a bad rep from free safety Marcus Williams). The Saints should be preparing Lattimore for another day’s work against a team’s best wideout.
Hopefully he’ll be ready for Round 2 with Adams. Adams broke out in 2018 by catching 111 passes for 1,386 yards and 13 touchdowns, taking a slight step back in 2019 while missing four games with a toe injury.
