A screenshot circulating on social media Monday appeared to show Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce “liking” an Instagram post insinuating receiver Davante Adams could be traded.
“Don’t be surprised if Davante Adams has already played his last snap with the Raiders,” the post read, with a link to a report from Sports Illustrated writer Michael Fabiano.
Adams was asked about the screenshot on his weekly appearance on the “Up & Adams Show” on Monday.
“I haven’t heard from (Pierce). I haven’t talked to him,” Adams said. “I don’t really know exactly what that was about. … It’s one of those situations where I just keep my head down and keep doing my thing and let the chips fall where they may. There’s been no communication with anybody from the team since that became a thing, but it’s kind of just like the weekly, ‘What’s up with Tae?’ thing. It’s always some sort of drama. But, at the end of the day, 17 doesn’t create any of it.”
“So, people can say what they want, but I’m just chilling and trying to be the model for not stirring the pot and just locking in and doing what I got to do.”
When host Kay Adams later mentioned she hoped the wide receiver would hear from Pierce on Tuesday, Davante replied, “Yeah, I do too.”
When contacted by The Athletic about the matter, a Raiders spokesperson declined to comment.
Davante has been the subject of constant trade rumors since last year due to a mix of Las Vegas’ inability to win consistently and his own public outbursts of frustration.
“It gets annoying, for sure,” Davante said when asked how he views the trade rumors.
Every time a team has made a formal trade offer for Davante to this point, however, the Raiders have rebuffed them. If Pierce intentionally liked the Sports Illustrated post, it could send a message to Davante — and other teams — that that’s changed.
When Davante was asked by Kay if he’s played his last snap for Las Vegas, he gave a noncommittal answer.
“All I can control is this talk we’re having right here. And then, after we’re done with this, all I can control is the next thing that I’m on to,” Davante said. “I’ma get up in a minute and go get a nice workout in, and that’s all I can control.”
Davante hurt his hamstring in practice last Thursday and didn’t play against the Cleveland Browns last Sunday, but he was on the sidelines at the game in street clothes. His timetable for return remains unclear.
“I’m not sure yet,” Davante said when asked if he’ll play against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. “We’re doing everything we can to get back on the field. And, honestly, I don’t know.”
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(Photo: Kyle Terada / Imagn Images)
