The Las Vegas Raiders will be without Davante Adams for their match with the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, with defensive end Maxx Crosby and offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. also looking doubtful.
The All-Pro receiver will miss the game after suffering a hamstring injury during practice on Thursday, while the team’s injury report included both Crosby, who is recovering from an ankle sprain, and Munford, who suffered knee and ankle injuries.
Linebacker Divine Deablo (oblique) and tight end Michael Mayer (personal reasons) are also unavailable for Sunday’s fixture, to compound selection woes for Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce.
Pierce, however, highlighted that other players, such as receiver Jakobi Meyers and tight end Brock Bowers, will need to step up and perform in Adams’ absence.
“Collectively, nobody needs to be Davante Adams,” Pierce said.
“I don’t need another Davante. There’s only one, right? I just need the best version of Jakobi Meyers.”
“We’ll see what happens come Sunday, but we really feel [positive] giving these guys the last 12 hours and now today, tomorrow to get ready for the game.”
Friday Injury Report for #CLEvsLVhttps://t.co/Z2DWLiVTSr
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 27, 2024
Adams has 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown so far this season, and while 27-year-old Meyers acknowledged Adams will be missed, he believes it will give other players the chance to showcase their talents.
Meyers said: “There’s a lot of talented individuals who will probably get more opportunities this week.
“So all I want to do is just be a big brother or something, just to show them, as long as we go out there and do what we’re supposed to do, believe in ourselves, we’re going to be alright.”
Bowers, who currently leads all NFL tight ends with 18 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown this term, added: “We’re obviously going to miss them a lot this weekend and other people are going to have to step up.
“We’re just going to have to do what we have to do to win, and see what happens.”
Both the Raiders and the Browns have one win and two losses so far this season.
