Green Bay Packers: Davante Adams status update vs. Arizona Cardinals

Green Bay Packers fans can still hold onto a tiny glimmer of hope that star wide receiver Davante Adams takes the field vs. the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night.

“Here’s the latest on Adams as we know he is in COVID protocol,” NFL Network’s Steve Wyche reported. “I’ve just been told he will not travel with the Packers to Arizona today, but, this is because he has to get a negative COVID result today and a negative result tomorrow.”

While that gives the Green Bay Packers a possibility Adams will in fact play on Thursday, Wyche continued the report making it sound extremely unlikely.

“Even if he gets both negative tests, he still would have to fly out separately tomorrow to get here on time for kickoff, and that’s a whole lot especially since he hasn’t been practicing with the team all week. It’s trending toward he’s not going to play, but those are the actual mechanics that he has to go through.

Again, there’s that small chance if he has two negative tests and flies out separately, but that’s asking a whole lot.”

The other Packers wide receiver in COVID protocol, Allen Lazard, has been ruled out of Thursday night’s game according to Adam Schefter.

Packers’ WR Davante Adams is unlikely to play Thursday night considering he still would need two negative COVID tests 24 hours apart. Packers’ WR Allen Lazard is out because he’s unvaccinated and couldn’t be cleared in time for Thursday night in time.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 27, 2021

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers would like to have his top wide receiver and one of the best in the business on the field Thursday night when the Green Bay Packers play the Arizona Cardinals, but that may not happen. He is hopeful that even in Adams’ potential absence, the Packers can find a way to take down the NFL’s only undefeated team.

Rodgers has “dealt with” games without Adams in the past due to minor injuries, and the Packers boast a 6-0 record in those contests.

“I don’t know. We’re not a better team without him, that’s for sure,” Rodgers said regarding winning without Adams. “Look at each of those games, we just found a way.”

Adams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, but the Rodgers is not concerned about his health despite spending a lot of time with his top target. Thankfully for the Packers, the change with Adams was known early enough to adjust the game plan. 

In addition to Adams’ absence, wideout Allen Lazard was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been working through a hamstring injury which has sidelined him for the last four games. If all three receivers are unavailable on Thursday, the Green Bay Packers will be without its top-three pass catchers. 

Receiver Randall Cobb and running back Aaron Jones will likely be Rodgers’ go-to targets on Thursday in the event the other three are out.