The Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams can trace his ascent to
becoming one of the most productive receivers in the NFL to a cold night in late
November four years ago.That game against the New England Patriots is proof of
how much a rookie must be prepared at any time to step
up
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opponents."Well I mean, I let everybody know as far as my approach to the game
ever since I got here was just to be ready at all times," Adams said this
week.It's a lesson that the Packers' current crop of rookie receivers can draw
from when Green Bay faces New England again on Sunday night at Foxboro.In 2014,
Adams took advantage of more looks when the Patriots decided to focus on
then-top Packers wideout Jordy Nelson. Adams had six catches for 121 yards on 11
targets, getting as many receptions and targets as he had drawn the three
previous games combined."Yeah, that was probably my coming out game," Adams
said.Now Adams is quarterback Aaron Rodgers' top option, the receiver that
usually draws an opponent's best cornerback. Adams has had at least 132 yards
receiving in each of his last three games."Well, he's big for us. I think he can
do it all from the wide receiver position and we're expecting a lot of attention
by the Patriots secondary" on Adams, coach Mike McCarthy said.If that's the
case
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Valdes-Scantling or Equanimeous St. Brown.The 6-foot-4 Valdes-Scantling has
especially taken advantage of more work in recent games with injuries to
starters Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison. They returned last week, but
Valdes-Scantling still caught a touchdown pass last week, his second in three
games.Adams has offered simple, but important advice to the rookies, just like
how Nelson did to Adams four years ago."Don't try to be (Adams.) Don't try to be
Cobb, don't try to be (Allison). Don't try to be anybody else that you see,"
Valdes-Scantling said in recounting a piece of advice from
Adams.Valdes-Scantling could draw another start against the Patriots with
Allison listed as doubtful for Sunday after injuring his groin in practice this
week to go with an already sore hamstring. Cobb is questionable again with a
hamstring injury but seems to be improving."Be yourself. Everybody does things
well, but what you do well, just keep doing it," Valdes-Scantling added about
Adams' advice.Adams has become an all-around receiver. Explosiveness and an
ability to make moves allow him to gain extra yards after a catch.But while the
26-21 win over the Patriots in 2014 might have been his
springboard
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consistency that now makes him an important part of the offense.For example,
following the Patriots game, Adams managed just four catches for 29 yards over
his last four regular-season games combined in 2014. Then he had seven catches
for 117 yards and a score in a 26-21 win in the playoffs over the Dallas
Cowboys.Adams has 28 touchdown catches since the 2016 season. Opposing
secondaries have caught on to Adams' rise, yet he's still coming up clutch for
Rodgers."He's going to look to guys who maybe he hasn't looked to as much coming
up," Adams said. "If that's how they decide to go about the game, remove (me)
from the game, I'm still going to do my best to contribute as much as I can to
this offense. I know the rest of the guys will be ready as well."Linebacker Nick
Perry (ankle) and safety Jermaine Whitehead (back) are the only other players on
the injury report, listed as questionable for Sunday.Patriots bring in three
players for free agency workouts, including ex-Steelers quarterback Landry Jones
The New England Patriots are always looking for ways to improve their roster and
preparing for any and all eventualities is a big part of that. As a result, the
team regularly hosts free agency workouts to keep its emergency lists up to date
and to have potential candidates quickly available when the need arises.
Yesterday
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they are unlikely to get signed anytime soon, but could serve as valuable
call-ups in case the team has to add depth at their respective positions.CB
David AmersonA second-round pick by the Washington Redskins in 2013, David
Amerson has not yet found a long-term home in the NFL. The N.C. State product
spent the first two years of his career in Washington before getting released
early during the 2015 season. The 6¡¯1, 205 lbs cornerback was subsequently
claimed off waivers by the Oakland Raiders, who quickly made him a starter and
later signed him to a four-year, $35 million contract. Just two years into his
deal, however, he was let go again. Coming off a season-ending foot injury, he
joined the Kansas City Chiefs but was let go again during early September¡¯s
roster cutdowns.WR Dontrelle InmanAn undrafted free agent in 2011, it took until
2014 for Dontrelle Inman to join an NFL team¡¯s active roster: the San Diego
Chargers added the former CFL standout and he was able to make the 53-man squad
in his first year with the team. The
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valuable rotational receiver for the Chargers and caught 107 passes for 1,463
yards and seven touchdowns before getting traded to the Chicago Bears midway
through the 2017 season. The 29-year old was a productive rotational player in
Chicago as well but was not re-signed after the years. He had been on the open
market ever since.QB Landry JonesAfter having served as Ben Roethlisberger¡¯s
primary backup for the last five seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to
release Landry Jones during roster cuts earlier this month ¨C his spot had been
taken over by rookie Mason Rudolph. Before being let go, the former fourth-round
draft pick appeared in a combined 20 games for the team ¨C starting five,
including a 2016 meeting with the Patriots ¨C and completed 110 passes on 174
attempts for 1,321 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.