As of this publishing, nothing is imminent in regards to Las Vegas Raiders wideout Davante Adams. While a trade could happen sooner rather than later, the Silver and Black have plenty of games left, most notably against their AFC West rival, the Denver Broncos, on Sunday.
One of the biggest concerns facing the Raiders right now: Who will be their new de facto No. 1 receiver?
Jakobi Meyers, it’s your time now.
Look, no one is replacing Adams’ talent; that’s just a fact, regardless of how you feel about his contributions (or lack thereof) to the Raiders this season. Some could argue that much of this was just surface-level brewing where something had to give. Regardless, it’s only Week 5; somehow, the Raiders will need another “WR1.”
We will exclude Brock Bowers from this; he’s a tight end, after all. Meyers, for all intents and purposes, is the natural heir. When he arrived with the Raiders for the 2023 season, No. 16 maintained his production: 807 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. This season, he’s been highly reliable with zero drops, recording 19 receptions with 200-plus receiving yards.
Jakobi Meyers stepping up amidst drama between Raiders and Davante Adams
Meyers is no stranger to taking on a bigger role. He did it with the New England Patriots, and he’ll have to do it for the Raiders and head coach Antonio Pierce. When reached for comment (h/t Paul Gutierrez), Meyers was forthright and, if nothing else, exuded confidence.
“I’ve played in big moments. I’ve played and had to pull a lot of weight before. So, until we can kind of figure out what’s going on, I’m going to just keep my head down and, hopefully, we can do this together. I’m going to keep being me. That’s all I can do. Whatever they bring to me, I’ll be ready for it. I’ll handle it like I always do.”
That does not resemble a man who will miss Adams (figuratively speaking, relax). Right now, the Raiders are 2-2 and in control of their destiny, with the Broncos waiting for them on Sunday. A collective of Meyers, Bowers, and a suddenly resurging running game might be enough to help the Silver and Black circle the wagon.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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