Star Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is once again going into a season with massive uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position on his time.
The teammate most important to Adams’ success is still a toss-up for the Raiders as of the first week of training camp.
Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams doesn’t know who will be throwing him the ball come week 1
In an article from NFL.com, Adams explained that there are pros and cons to not knowing who the Raiders’ signal caller will be when the 2024 season kicks off.
The Raiders could stick with Aidain O’Connell, their fourth-round pick from the Purdue Boilermakers, or they could switch it up and try to make it work with journeyman QB Gardner Minshew.
Adams explained that the scenario creates a more open situation, allowing Adams to get work in with all the necessary people.
“There’s pros and cons [to no timeline], but at the end of the day, we get enough reps with both guys and we are all communicating,” Adams said this week, via ESPN. “We have really open conversations, and we all get reps with all the quarterbacks … and I’m definitely watching at all times, seeing everything and learning how the ball comes out with Gardner versus Aidan. I got my antennas up for everything.”
Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams finished the 2023 season with Aidan O’Connell
After a rough start with QB Jimmy Garoppolo, the Raiders organization let go of head coach Josh McDaniels. Antonio Pierce became the full-time head coach after winning the locker room over during the back half of the 2023 season.
Pierce rode out the end of the season with O’Connell at the helm, who ended the season with a 5-5 record as a starter. O’Connell finished the 2023 season with over 2,200 yards passing and 12 touchdowns in 11 games played.
Minshew, who played his 2023 season as the replacement for Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson, finished his 2023 campaign with a 7-6 record as a starter. Minshew had over 3,300 yards and 15 touchdowns with a Pro Bowl selection to boot.
Davante Adams was visibly frustrated with the Las Vegas Raiders QB situation in 2023
Before Pierce took over for McDaniels and before O’Connell took over for Garoppolo, Adams was struggling to produce like he did with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback during his time with the Green Bay Packers.
Adams never looked like his old self, but two of the three games in which he had over 100 yards receiving came with O’Connell at the helm as did the game in which Adams had his season-high in targets.
Adams’ visible frustrations with Garoppolo’s play were confirmed in the Netflix “Receiver” series. The series, which got up close and personal with Adams, revealed that Adams would not have stayed a Raider if Garoppolo wasn’t benched.
In the same NFL.com article, Adams explained that he is in a much better place with his current quarterback situation despite the high level of uncertainty shrouding the upcoming 2024 season.
“You saw raw emotion [on Netflix] and that was just a genuine look at what we were going through, and it wasn’t always the brightest point, but there was a lot of good moments too,” Adams said. “Obviously, it’s a television show, at the end of the day, so there’s going to be certain narratives and things like that. Not that it was not accurate, because it was very accurate, the way that I felt, the way that the team felt and kind of the place we were in as a unit.
“But I’m in a really good place right now. I’m really happy to be out here with the guys.”
While Adams won’t have the luxury of catching balls from one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game like he did in Green Bay, he heads into the 2024 season with a Raiders team that hopes to shine in a crowded AFC West division.
