Davante Adams was openly frustrated with the quarterback situation in Las Vegas last season, but it is clear that Gardner Minshew has quickly earned the respect of the wide receiver.
Adams discussed the Raiders’ big Week 2 upset win over the Baltimore Ravens during an appearance on the “Up & Adams” show with Kay Adams on Tuesday. The Pro Bowl wideout was asked if he had a message for Minshew on the sideline after Minshew threw an interception late in the first half with Las Vegas trailing 6-3.
Adams said he knew Minshew would shake off the turnover.
“I just called his name and looked at him and smiled at him and just shook my head saying, basically, ‘We gonna be alright. Don’t worry about it,'” Adams recalled. “I mean, dude is one of the most mentally tough people I’ve been around, so I wasn’t too much worried about him.”
Kay then asked Davante to elaborate on why he views Minshew as such a mentally tough player.
“Just being around him so far, I can tell by the way he responds to the critics. Some are local beat writers who had some BS on a hot mic that they were talking about him,” Adams said. “For him to bounce back and go into a hostile environment like Baltimore, which obviously we know it’s not just the environment but the team itself is a force. So, to be able to snap out of having a not-so-great Week 1 and then come in and not-so-great first half and finish against a team like that. Without me even saying it, it proves that he has that type of mental toughness.”
#Raiders 3x All Pro WR Davante Adams on QB Gardner Minshew 🗣️
"Dude is one of the most mentally tough people I've been around." 💪@tae15adams @GardnerMinshew5 @Raiders @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/I24nQtf91J
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) September 17, 2024
The hot mic moment that Adams referred to was when reporters were caught last week discussing the Raiders’ upcoming game against the Ravens. One of the reporters could be heard saying Minshew is “going to get his a– kicked” by Baltimore.
There has been plenty of talk about Adams being unhappy in Las Vegas since the team moved on from Derek Carr. For the time being, however, Adams seems very pleased with Minshew. A 26-23 win as a 9-point road favorite will do that for a player.
