National Football League

Green Bay Packers: It's Davante Adams' time

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With Eddie Lacy on injured reserved and James Starks out with a knee injury, wide receiver Ty Montgomery had to pick up the slack in the backfield during Thursday’s 26-10 victory over the Chicago Bears.

As a result, the wide receiver group needed a boost and got one from Davante Adams. Adams caught a career high 13 passes for 132 yards and two scores in the win.

In addition, his 13 receptions are tied for the second-most in a single game in Green Bay Packers history, behind Don Huston.

His elite performance earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. According to the NFL’s Director of Football Communications, Randall Liu, Adams joined Greg Jennings as the only Packers wide outs to win the award over the past 15 years.

Adams, the former Fresno State standout, had an efficient rookie season in 2014, catching 38 passes for 446 yards and three touchdowns. However, his sophomore season featured a slump and he only hauled in one touchdown pass.

Many were quick to judge Adams and assumed his rookie season was a fluke. He has bounced back this year and silenced some critics. His five-touchdown receptions this season are tied for a team high with Jordy Nelson and he leads the team with five 20-plus-yard catches.

The one negative that surrounds the former second-round pick is his inconsistency. He’s been notorious in his short career to make phenomenal plays, followed up with a terrible drop or a mental mistake.

However, what was most impressive in his last performance was that, there was no sense of inconsistency. Rather, he was consistent, reliable and aggressive.

Oct 20, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) catches a pass against Chicago Bears defensive back De

He showcased that aggressiveness on his first touchdown reception, where he fought off a Bears cornerback on a poor back-shoulder pass from Aaron Rodgers. On his second touchdown catch, he made a key adjustment to make a play after Rodgers threw behind him on a slant.

Adams has a perfect opportunity to become Rodgers’ No. 1 option. It is clear Nelson is still timid after missing last season with a torn ACL. Nelson may have five touchdowns, but he isn’t close to the player he once was.

The thin running back depth also plays in Adams’ favor. Head coach Mike McCarthy was pleased with Montgomery’s impact out of the backfield, which now allows Adams to have more opportunities.

And most importantly, Adams’ last performance earned trust from Rodgers. The former two-time NFL MVP has struggled this season with finding a reliable option, but that can change.

If Adams continues to play at this level, he will cement himself as Rodgers’ new favorite target and that may be exactly what this offense needs to regain its dominance.

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