Latest news with #DavanteAdams
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Davante Adams: LeBron James could've been an NFL legend
Many people know that LeBron James was once a star football player in high school. He played wide receiver for St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in his native Akron, Ohio, and he was named first team all-state during his second year. As a junior, he had 61 receptions, 1,245 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was even recruited by some prominent football schools, such as the University of Notre Dame. But he ultimately stopped playing football because of a wrist injury he had suffered during an AAU game just prior to his senior year of high school. Advertisement Many have said over the years that had he decided to, James could've excelled in the NFL. Davante Adams, the six-time Pro Bowl wideout who is now a member of the Los Angeles Rams, said on "The Dan Patrick Show" that James could've been a legend on the gridiron. 'He would've been one of the best receivers, tight ends of all-time, no question. I don't know if you've ever seen him play football?… He can fly too, that's the thing. He's one of the fastest NBA players probably of all-time. 'I've never seen somebody cover space on a basketball court, maybe John Wall, Derrick Rose something like that. But he's up there with all 'em.' James would've undoubtedly been a nightmare for cornerbacks to cover because of his 6-foot-9, 250-pound frame and otherworldly speed. If he had been asked to play the tight end position, perhaps he would've had a career akin to that of Rob Gronkowski, the powerful and ultra-athletic four-time Super Bowl champion who is considered by many to be the greatest ever to play the position. However, it is safe to say that James chose the right sport, especially with the perpetual concerns about concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in the game of football. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Davante Adams: LeBron James could've been an NFL legend
New York Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Matthew Stafford will begin Rams training camp working on the side
LOS ANGELES — Quarterback Matthew Stafford will be limited when the Los Angeles Rams begin training camp, coach Sean McVay said Tuesday. The 37-year-old Stafford, who is entering his 17th NFL season, is experiencing back soreness and will have his workouts modified. He will begin camp working on the side with trainers, according to McVay. Per Sean McVay, QB Matthew Stafford is dealing with some back soreness heading into this camp. Rams will modify his workouts, and he will start training camp working to the side with trainers. That's a five-day period, per McVay. — Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) July 22, 2025 Jimmy Garoppolo is Stafford's backup and Stetson Bennett is the other QB on the roster. This offseason, the Rams signed six-time Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams to a two-year, $46 million contract to add more firepower to the offense after releasing Cooper Kupp, who signed with the Seahawks. The Rams open the season against the Houston Texans at home Sept. 7 at SoFi Stadium. Advertisement Stafford joined the Rams in 2021 and led that team to a Super Bowl title while throwing for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdown passes. He played just nine games the following season while dealing with multiple injuries and played 15 and 16 games, respectively the past two seasons in L.A. This story will be updated
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN analyst puts Rams WR Puka Nacua in 'elite' tier
Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua is reaching rarified air as he enters his third NFL season. The former fifth-round pick is coming off another great year despite missing six games after he finished with 79 receptions for 990 yards and three touchdowns. Now, he'll line up alongside veteran Davante Adams with Matthew Stafford still throwing him the ball in 2025. While there is debate as to whether or not Nacua is one of the best receivers in the league already, ESPN's Kevin Clark believes the Rams' star is already among other elite pass-catchers and put him on his second tier of receivers alongside A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb and Nico Collins. Nacua proved in just two seasons that he can be one of the best receivers in the league. Not only did he produce all over the field in 2024, but he also had 115 receptions for first downs. Nacua moved the chains on 17% of the routes he ran, too, which outpaced every other receiver in the league this past season. Regardless of where he lands among the pantheon of receivers, there's no debating that Nacua is one of the top young pass-catchers in the NFL. He's only 24 years old and is already Stafford's No. 1 target — even with Adams in tow. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Puka Nacua in 'elite' WR tier, per ESPN analyst
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rams WR Puka Nacua was a first-down machine in 2024
Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua missed five of the first six games of the 2024 NFL season but still produced a sensational year with nearly 1,000 receiving yards on 79 receptions. Part of how Nacua accomplished this feat is because of his ability to convert receptions into first downs. According to Fantasy Points Data, Nacua caught a pass that resulted in a first down on 17% of the routes he ran this past season. That number ranked No. 1 among all receivers in 2024, well ahead of other stalwarts like A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ja'Marr Chase. Nacua is used to leading NFL receivers after a great production season, but this number shows why Matthew Stafford preferred passing the ball to him over others in 2024. Nacua simply got the job done and moved the chains. Davante Adams, interestingly enough, did not make the top-16 list. That could partially be caused by the teams he was on in 2024 (the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders) or that his routes weren't necessarily always to the chains. He saw a lot of targets either well downfield or in the short-yardage, which don't always equate to first downs. Nacua is a chain-mover, while the addition of Adams should only make life easier for Stafford on a down-to-down situation. It's night, though, to have a special talent at receiver and one that can be relied upon on a play-by-play basis. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams WR Puka Nacua was a first-down machine in 2024
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WWE star doesn't think Puka Nacua is a 'game-changing wide receiver'
The discourse around the best wide receivers in the NFL continued this week when ESPN released their top-10 rankings based on a survey from executives, coaches and scouts. Neither Puka Nacua nor Davante Adams were ranked inside the top-10 despite both playing like two of the best receivers in 2024. WWE star Seth Rollins agreed with Nacua's absence. While he guest-hosted the Rich Eisen Show, Rollins said that the Rams receiver isn't "a game-changing wide receiver" because he's more of a possession receiver who makes a lot of catches but doesn't break free often. 'I don't think Puka's gotta be in [the top-10]. He's not a game-changing wide receiver for me. Not yet," Rollins said. 'He's legit, but I don't know that he strikes fear into my heart.' Nacua may not be in the upper echelon of receivers in Rollins' mind, but his stats certainly are. The Rams' wideout has 184 receptions for 2,476 yards and nine touchdowns in just two years — and he missed six games in 2024. Those numbers rank eighth, seventh and 37th since 2023. So, if Nacua just ups his touchdowns he should easily clear the bar for being a top-10 guy. Nacua will once again have Matthew Stafford under center and Sean McVay calling plays, so that always helps. Oh yeah, and Davante Adams is now in town to take more defenders away from Nacua. This will be the year for Nacua to prove he can change games for the Rams.
