ESPN: Rams will explore WR trade possibility

If Adams hit the absolute soonest return date, week-wise, he theoretically could face the Chiefs in Week 13, but that game takes place on Thursday night. We suspect facing the 49ers in Week 14 is more likely, though nothing is guaranteed for a 33-year-old player. Adams should be stashed in injured reserve spots, where possible. He makes for a tough cut in leagues without them.

Surgeries are sometimes delayed to help reduce swelling. Occasionally, new information is gathered during this time and/or during the surgery. Adams is currently expected to be sidelined for 6-10 weeks. Perhaps the wide return-to-play timeline is due to the fact that the surgeon has not yet fully assessed the injury. We tentatively expect the team to share an updated recovery timeline once Adams undergoes the procedure on his ruptured hamstring tendon. Stay tuned.

Earlier today, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that the Rams “will at least explore the possibility of trading for a wide receiver.” Obviously, McVay doesn’t want to tip off other wide receiver-needy NFL teams about their potential entrance into the trade market, and he has no reason to be honest with us. Acquiring a new wide receiver makes sense, and the Rams were aggressive players in the trade market last offseason. Stay tuned.

Adams had a non-contact injury at the end of Week 6’s loss to the Cardinals and unfortunately is as serious as it appeared. He’ll likely be placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 7. His absence will further focus targets on Puka Nacua and likely elevate Konata Mumpfield into a bigger role. Adams had put together a 30/480/4 line in his first six games of the season. Adams will reportedly have surgery to “clean” out the tendon, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, in hopes he can return around the team’s bye week, which is scheduled for Week 11. It’s a major blow for a Rams team that is already reeling at 2-4.

Adams appeared to injure his left knee while running a route in the red zone on the Rams’ final possession. He cut, turned upfield and quickly began limping his way to the back of the end zone, removing himself from the play while grabbing at the inside of his left knee. He subbed himself out after that. No word on his status, but we expect an update soon. Prior to that, the Cardinals’ pass rush made life tough on the Rams’ passing attack. Adams caught his first pass a minute and a half into the second quarter. Stafford was looking his way in the end zone later on the same drive, but Josh Sweat got to him for the strip-sack. Adams banked 16-yard receptions on the sixth and seventh drives, impressively getting wide open via a downfield out route on the second one. If Adams escaped with a minor injury, he would be a WR2 against the Raiders next week.

Adams cashed in on a corner fade from four yards out in the second quarter and ran a beautiful route on a double move slant from five yards out for his second score in the fourth quarter, proving that he remains an elite red zone weapon for an offense that has now attempted 51 or more passes in three straight games. Adams is back to modest target rates following the Week 4 return of Puka Nacua but remains a weekly WR2 due to his red zone acumen, which remains true ahead of a much more forgiving matchup against the Cardinals in Week 6.

Adams was the victim of a bad Matthew Stafford ball or two in rainy Philadelphia conditions, but he sadly immediately reverted to clear No. 2 wideout status with Puka Nacua back in the lineup. Nacua went off for 9/125. Adams now has seven catches for 58 scoreless yards in two games with Nacua in the lineup compared to 15/332/2 in two games without. Hopefully that trend normalizes a bit for a potential Week 5 shootout with the Bills.

Adams’ 137 yards combine with the 195 yards he erupted for in Week 2 to set a new high in receiving yards in consecutive games during his remarkable career. Even more stunning was the fact that he did so against one of the top corners in the league in Pat Surtain, who shadowed Adams for all but a handful of his routes, proving his ability to get open against top competition even in the later stages of his career. Puka Nacua missed both Week 2 and Week 3 and his injury timeline remains convoluted, at best. Adams will remains a top-tier WR1 should Nacua miss more time, and would be solid WR2 should Nacua return for a Week 4 meeting with the Eagles.

In a surprisingly candid interview with ESPN Los Angeles, McVay certainly did not sound optimistic that Nacua would play in Week 3. Nacua has already missed one practice this week and there’s been no indication that he will get back on the field over the next two days. Davante Adams racked up 195 yards and two scores with Nacua out in Week 2. It will be hard not to rank him as a WR1 once Nacua is ruled out. Terrance Ferguson operated as the team’s No. 2 receiver last week and will be in the TE1 mix without Nacua.

Sean McVay was unsure if Nacua would be able to play in Week 3 when asked about it on Tuesday. A DNP today suggests Nacua will need at least one more week of rest before returning to the lineup. Terrance Ferguson finished second on the Rams in targets last week with nine. He caught six passes for 54 yards and a score. No receiver outside of Davante Adams was targeted more than two times. Adams was utterly dominant, turning his 10 targets into 195 yards and two scores. Those are the only two major beneficiaries of Nacua’s likely absence.