Davante Adams isn’t satisfied with how he’s being used on the field, less than one-and-a-half seasons into his run with the Raiders.
Adams sounded off Wednesday on his lack of targets over the Raiders’ last two games, home victories over the Packers and Patriots.
“I’m a human being and I have extremely high standards for myself in this offense,” Adams said, per ESPN.
“I’m sure people are thinking: ‘They won the game, why is there an issue?’ I mean, you see why it’s an issue. Y’all should know who I am, know what I’m about at this point … when you’re a player like me, mentally, my benchmark is not wins and losses — it’s greatness. So when I go out there, I expect to be able to have that ability to put that on tape and have an influence on the game. That’s my purpose for being here. I’m not here just to hang out; I came here to win and to do it the right way.”
Adams signed a five-year, $140 million contract with the Raiders after being acquired from the Packers in a 2022 trade.
The 30-year-old Adams, who has an ailing right shoulder, was targeted four times in Week 5 against the Packers, catching four passes for 45 yards, and was targeted five times in Week 6 against the Patriots, catching two passes for 29 yards.
“So if it don’t look like it’s supposed to look, then I’m going to be frustrated if I’m not a part of that plan,” said Adams, a six-time Pro Bowler. “Because I have the opportunity to go and change that and make it look like a much better picture out there. And if that doesn’t happen, then I’m going to be frustrated. If Jakobi [Meyers] goes out and has a monster game or if the offense is scoring every five plays, like our first drive on the Bills, then it is what it is.
“It’s not about me, but I’m one of the bigger pieces as to why this offense is going to go. And if I’m not getting it, then that’s obviously not according to plan.”
The last two weeks were a far cry from the previous two weeks when Adams had 33 total targets.
Adams caught 13 of 20 targets for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 3 loss to the Steelers before catching eight of 13 targets for 75 yards in a Week 4 loss to the Chargers.
The receiver tallied 322 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 25 catches spanning the first three weeks, compared to 149 yards on 14 catches with zero scores the last three games.
Last season, Adams set a career-high with 180 targets, catching 100 passes for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first season with Las Vegas.
He is used to being heavily targeted from his eight seasons catching passes from Aaron Rodgers on the Packers.
After reuniting with college teammate Derek Carr last season, Jimmy Garoppolo took over as the Raiders’ quarterback this season.
Garoppolo left Sunday’s game against the Patriots with a back injury, and his status is in question for Sunday’s game against the Bears.
Adams’ comments come as the Oct. 31 trade deadline approaches, and various reports have mentioned the receiver as a potential top player who could be dealt.
How the Raiders (3-3) fare the next two weeks could factor in that decision.