Amid his 11th autumn in the NFL, Davante Adams has been selected to six Pro Bowls, voted to three All-Pro teams and played with and against some all-time greats.
Always looking to improve his game even with his aforementioned résumé, Adams has studied the great ones, as well.
He’ll share the field for the first time with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on Sunday and, in doing so, will play against who he says is the finest rusher he’s ever seen.
“Dude changed the game,” Adams said Wednesday. “He’s the best, in my opinion, best ball-carrier ever -- no matter what position you want to talk about. I don’t think anybody’s as big of a threat carrying the football.”
It’s a massive compliment from Adams, who’s not one to toss around undeserved praise.
Calling Jackson the finest to ever tote the rock is highly arguable, with names such as Barry Sanders, Walter Payton and Jim Brown immediately coming to mind, not to mention wide receivers aplenty if you're not going strictly with running backs, as Adams has chosen to do.
There’s little dispute that Jackson has changed the game, however, and has most likely established himself as the greatest running QB of all time.
Only three quarterbacks have ever eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season -- Michael Vick, Jackson and Justin Fields -- and the Ravens QB1 has done it twice. His 14 100-yard rushing games are also four more than any other QB in history and nine more than another active quarterback. Jackson is currently third in career QB rushing yards, with his 5,380 trailing Cam Newton (5,631) and Vick (6,109).
A burst of speed and quickness who can burden defenses on scrambles or designed runs, Jackson is a 27-year-old dynamo who already has a pair of AP NFL Most Valuable Player awards in his trophy case.
“Obviously, he’s worked really hard to develop in the other parts of his game, as well, and you’ve seen that come a long way, too,” Adams said. “He’s a huge threat, somebody you gotta be accountable for out there and make sure you know what he’s doing.”
Jackson’s rushing abilities are held in such high regard that Adams, aiming to become better at breaking tackles after the catch, looked to Jackson for assistance.
“I was literally finding myself watching Lamar Jackson highlights in my locker before the games,” Adams said.
However, the two have never shared the field.
Adams has played the Ravens twice in his career, each time with the Green Bay Packers.
The first, in 2017, was the year before Jackson joined the league and the second, in 2021, was when Jackson was injured.
The two greats will highlight Sunday’s Raiders-Ravens matchup.
Fortunately for Adams, he won’t be tasked with containing Jackson, but will get his first up-close look at the brilliant ball carrier.
“Obviously I don’t have to worry about that,” Adams said of defending Jackson, “but helluva football player.”