Raiders’ Davante Adams Frustrated by Role Despite Win Over Patriots

The star wide receiver seems to be growing increasingly frustrated by his lack of targets in the Las Vegas offense.

Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams seems to be growing increasingly frustrated with his role in the Las Vegas offense after catching just two passes in Sunday’s home win over the Patriots.

“I’m a human being, and I have extremely high standards for myself in this offense,” Adams told reporters Wednesday. “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. So if it don’t look like it’s supposed to look, then I’m going to be frustrated if I’m not part of the plan.”

Adams hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 3 against the Steelers. Adams caught 13 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in that game, which remains his banner performance of the season. In the three weeks since, he has caught 14 total passes total for 149 yards.

Raiders coach Josh McDaniels acknowledged Adams’s frustration. 

“Honestly, great players wouldn’t be great if they didn’t want to try to help the team win in every way that they can,” McDaniels said. “Look, the game is different for them, because they’ve achieved a certain status, and they want to contribute every single time that they’re out there as much as they can. So, that’s part of them being them. I would never tell them to squash that. He’s been a great leader, a great influence.”

The Raiders (3-3) likely will need to get Adams more involved if they want to become a playoff contender in the AFC. Whether it’s Jimmy Garoppolo, or another quarterback starting in his place if he can’t play Sunday due to injury, Adams will be looking for more targets when the team faces off against the Bears (1-5) in Chicago at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.