Getty Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams.
In the 63-year history of the Raiders franchise, the team had never entered the third quarter of a game with the score tied 0-0 — until Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings.
The team’s offensive futility seems to have worn on wide receiver Davante Adams, who in an uncharacteristic move, left the locker room without comment before it was open to the media, according to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed.
Adams was the victim of a lifeless offense in the 3-0 loss, catching seven passes for 53 yards. It was the sixth time this season he was held under 60 receiving yards after averaging 66.7 yards per game.
#Raiders WR Davante Adams left the locker room before it opened to media after the game
Adams, a team captain, usually obliges reporters by speaking to them after a game, regardless of whether it’s a win or loss. The fact that he left isn’t a good sign of how he feels about the current state of the team. This will be a situation to watch as he’s already expressed frustration in the past.
Will Davante Adams Want to Change Teams?
Despite having plenty of talent, the Raiders have one of the worst offenses in the NFL. Their 277.7 yards per game this season ranks 28th in the league. Against the Vikings, the Raiders amassed only 202 yards, committed three turnovers and had only eight first downs.
CBS Sports wrote about the “ineptitude” of the Raiders’ offense: “If you’re wondering how bad the offense was, it was this bad: The Raiders only had one drive in the entire game that made it inside of Minnesota’s 40-yard line and that drive ended with a lost fumble from Hunter Renfrow.”
The Raiders’ ineffectiveness has hurt Adams, too. He had more 1,300 receiving yards in three straight seasons and was on a Hall of Fame trajectory. But he won’t reach those same heights this year. With four games left to play, he has 814 receiving yards on the season. Given his per-game average, he’s still on pace to top 1,000 yards.
Adams’ leaving the locker room early won’t quiet rumors about his getting traded in the offseason. The New York Jets have been linked to him.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on November 19 that the Jets, who currently employ Aaron Rodgers, Adams’ quarterback when they were both with the Green Bay Packers, will pursue a trade for Adams after getting “rebuffed” at the trade deadline.
“[I]f the Raiders struggle down the stretch and Adams thinks a Rodgers reunion in New York enhances his chances of winning, he ultimately could wind up requesting a trade,” Schefter wrote, quoting a league source who said, “That will happen.”
What’s Next for Las Vegas Raiders?
At 5-8 and in the AFC’s 13th seed, the Raiders have a 1.4% chance of getting into the playoffs, according to CBS Sports.
The biggest issue is that they don’t have a strong starting quarterback. Since benching veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, who had led the league in interceptions, rookie Aidan O’Connell hasn’t been much better, throwing 7 interceptions to only 4 touchdowns. His 63.8% completion percentage through eight games is only 18th best in the league.
The Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore suggested in a November 24 mailbag that the Chicago Bears‘ Justin Fields could be a potential upgrade at quarterback in the offseason.
Meanwhile, the Raiders have a solid defense to build around. They are ranked 11th in the league in points against.