The Green Bay Packers won’t be rushing to judgment on the status of their star wide receiver for Sunday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints.
Davante Adams was held out of Wednesday’s first practice of the week for the Packers with a hamstring injury that sidelined him in the second half of last Sunday’s home win over the Detroit Lions, but he told reporters during a post-practice conference call he was “feeling better” and “making good progress every day.”
“It’s too early to tell,” Adams said. “We’re going to wait it out and see. It’ll probably be a decision that’s made later in the week most likely, just to get a full assessment and get me the full amount of time that I need to get right to a real comfortable spot. I don’t think we’re there just yet, but we’re making great strides on the way there.”
The Packers were also still without star nose tackle Kenny Clark at Wednesday’s practice, but everyone else practiced in at least a limited capacity. Clark has not played or practiced since suffering a groin injury just before halftime in Week 1’s win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Update: Adams did not participate in his second straight practice on Thursday with no new further clarification on his status against the Saints.
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Adams Clarifies Details About Week 2 Injury
Adams went limping to the sideline in Sunday’s third quarter and spent the rest of the afternoon there as the Packers cruised to a 42-21 victory over the Lions. He had been deemed questionable to return with a hamstring injury, but it became increasingly unlikely he would return when the Packers took a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Davante Adams is so smooth off the line 🔥 @tae15adams @packers
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur seemingly downplayed the severity of Adams’ injury the following Monday when he told reporters Adams had wanted to come back into the game, indicating the decision to keep him on the sideline was more precautionary than necessary with the Packers’ late-game lead.
But the 27-year-old wideout clarified Wednesday the entire group — him, LaFleur and the Packers’ medical staff — all reached the decision together for him to remain out.
“Yeah, it probably wouldn’t have been too smart,” Adams said of potentially coming back into Week 2’s game. “I think we made the right decision. I think we all came to that conclusion that it would be best, but just the gamer in me always wants to get out there and fight through anything for my team, for myself.
“I wouldn’t say I was trying to get back in the game, but I definitely was trying to feel it out on the sidelines to possibly make an entrance back. We definitely all came to a consensus that we would just ride it out and let those guys take the rest of the work.”
Packers’ Backup Plan if Adams Can’t Play?
The Packers have one of the best wide receivers in football and never want to play a full game without him if they can avoid it, but the offense doesn’t collapse if Adams is unable to play against the Saints on Sunday night.
Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones are a proven winning combination for the Packers if they can get the proper support around them, which been a problem with outstanding offensive line play thus far. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovksy, all five of the Packers’ starting offensive linemen have a pass-block win rate of 93.9%, while All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari ranks fifth in the NFL for run-block win rate (84.2%).
The Packers also have two third-year wideouts — Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes Scantling — who each have seven catches for more than 100 yards and could thrive with increased opportunities. Valdes-Scantling has been favored with more targets (13 to nine) and as a deep-ball threat, hauling in a 45-yard touchdown in the season opener, but he also has more dropped passes than Lazard.
Aaron Rodgers’ passer rating when targeting his top 3 WRs to start 2020:
Davante Adams: 140.0
Marquez Valdes-Scantling: 123.9
Allen Lazard: 153.7
If Adams is unable to play in Week 3, one of the biggest questions will be who else is going to step up in the passing game alongside MVS and Lazard. The only other wide receiver on the active roster (as of Wednesday) is Malik Taylor, a second-year wideout has still not made his first NFL reception but was retained for the initial 53-man roster after an impressive training camp.
The Packers also still employ Darrius Shepherd — who spent time on the active roster in 2019 — as well as Reggie Begelton and Robert Foster on their practice squad and could promote as many as two of them on game day to help fill out the position.
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Davante Adams Clarifies Details About Injury Status vs. Saints