Davante Adams left Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to play alongside former college teammate Derek Carr. Heading into the final two games of the Raiders’ season, he will be catching passes from Jarrett Stidham instead.
Las Vegas made the decision to bench Carr for the last two games of 2022 with Las Vegas sitting at 6-9 and out of the playoff race. With rumors swirling about Carr’s future with the Raiders, the move could lend credence to the possibility that the team could part ways with the 31-year-old during the offseason.
ESPN reported Wednesday night that Carr has stepped away from the Raiders to “not be a distraction” for the remainder of the season
Asked about Carr’s benching, Adams said Carr is “one of my really good friends” and was “the reason why I came here in the first place.”
“Obviously, I don’t think anybody was excited about it in here,” Adams said, per Raiders’ Levi Edwards. “I wouldn’t be here right now if he wasn’t here. I think everybody knows how I feel about him. With that said, there’s a process of how things go, and I’m not going to sit here and go on and on. Obviously I support my guy. We’ve got to finish the season up the best way we can possible with all things considered at this point.”
Davante Adams on Derek Carr: “Obviously I support my guy (but) we got to finish out this season the best way we can possible, with all things considered at this point.” pic.twitter.com/gZlNJDwK00
— Levi Edwards (@theleviedwards) December 28, 2022
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Adams followed up on his thoughts by posting on Instagram that Carr gave “everything he had” and again said he was “the reason I’m a Raider.”
One of the most disciplined and loving people I know,” Adams wrote. “Got my bruddas back through whatever and if you can’t respect it (excuse my language) [middle finger emoji] you!!!”
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This offseason, Adams was traded to Las Vegas after spending the first eight years of his career forming one of the most dynamic quarterback-receiver duos in the league with Rodgers. In Green Bay, he had five seasons with at least 997 receiving yards and finished his time in Green Bay with 669 catches for 8,121 yards and 73 touchdowns.
Adams was dealt to Las Vegas for a 2022 first-round selection and a second-round pick, and immediately signed a five-year, $141.25 million extension that locked him in with the Raiders through the 2026 season. He has an out after the 2024 campaign.
Carr and Adams immediately re-established the connection they had at Fresno State. Adams has been targeted at least nine times in 11 games this season by Carr this season, tied for the most this season by any quarterback-receiver, per Stathead. He’s also had four games with at least 140 receiving yards, which ranks third in the NFL.
During Adams’ two years at Fresno State, he caught 233 passes for 3,031 yards with 38 touchdowns. Carr was the quarterback both seasons.
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This has been a disappointing season for a Raiders team that came into the season with lofty expectations following a 2021 playoff appearance and the offseason acquisition of Adams and EDGE Chandler Jones. Carr completed only 60.8 percent of his passes for 3,522 yards with 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. The Raiders’ offense ranks 12th in the league in scoring (23.2 points per game), but the defense has struggled, sitting at 23rd with 23.3 points per game allowed.
Adams, for his part, ranks 10th in the league with 88 receptions and is fifth in receiving yards at 1,290. His 12 receiving touchdowns are tied for the most in the league with Travis Kelce.
Carr’s benching has fueled speculation that he could be in his final season with the Raiders. Carr signed a three-year, $121.5 million extension with the Raiders that officially begins in 2023. However, if he is cut by February 15, the Raiders would be on the hook for $5.625 million in dead cap space. Should Las Vegas cut Carr, a reunion between longtime Patriots offensive coordinator and now Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels and high-profile free agent Tom Brady would seem to become a stronger possibility.
What that would mean for Adams, who came to the Raiders to play with his former Fresno State teammate, remains to be seen. He already left one future Hall of Fame quarterback to play alongside Carr. Would he want to stay in Las Vegas if Carr is cut to play with Brady? That could set up one of the more intriguing offseason storylines.
