Mutual respect united Davante Adams and Jair Alexander

GREEN BAY – One rep is all it takes.

At the start of Packers training camp in 2018, rookie first-round pick Jair Alexander was presented with Davante Adams in a 1-on-1 between Green Bay’s receivers and cornerbacks.

The veteran outplayed the newcomer in that first rep – and there was really no shame in that. Alexander was three months into his NFL career while Adams was coming off his first Pro Bowl season.

Most beginners wouldn’t think twice about the rep, ignoring it and waiting for their coach to provide feedback on what they could have done better.

By the time Adams returned to the locker room after practice, Alexander was already reviewing film on his iPad. He wanted to know what was needed to win the next round.

“A young player, especially a rookie, they’ll come in and overcome, and we’ll kind of learn from him on tape, but it wasn’t something that really got to them, at their core, like how it was with him,” Adams said. “And that’s when I realized he was going to be a special player. “

Today, Alexander and Adams are two of the NFL’s best players at their positions. Years of honing their skills against each other produced eight Pro Bowls and five All-Pro selections.

The two played four seasons together before Adams was traded to Las Vegas in March 2022, and now they are set to square off when the Packers travel to take on the Raiders on Monday night.

Alexander and Adams knew Green Bay and Las Vegas would meet each other on the 2023 schedule based on the NFC North-AFC West rotation, and they even joked about the possibility of a matchup during last season’s Pro Bowl games.

“We talked about him having a week off before playing with us, so he can be really fresh,” Alexander said with a smile. “I told him I was taking a week off too.”

As it turns out, both playmakers are currently dealing with some scrapes and bruises. Alexander missed two games with a back issue, while Adams suffered a shoulder injury in the Raiders’ 24-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday.

Alexander, a limited participant in Thursday’s practice, said his back feels better. When asked about his desire to play against the Raiders and Adams, the 26-year-old admitted: “I couldn’t miss this game. With the best.”

“He’s obviously the best in the league,” Alexander said. “It’s fast. I mean I could go on, but it’s for the best. I’ll leave it at that.”

Adams broke several franchise records during his eight seasons in Green Bay, including single-season receptions (123) and receiving yards (1,553) in 2021. He ranks in the top four in career catches (669, second), and On yards (8,121, fourth) and receiving touchdowns (73 seconds).

It only took one season in Las Vegas for the 30-year-old receiver to become the first Raiders player to record 100 receptions. He is also one of only six players to record more than 100 receiving yards and 1,500 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons.

Beyond just Adams’ skill, what Alexander appreciates most is how open the veteran receiver was with him during his formative years in Green Bay.

If Alexander’s play deserved praise, Adams delivered. If there was something he felt Alexander could improve on, Adams was vocal about that as well.

“He was always helpful that way,” Alexander said. “He would tell me what I would like to do, or maybe what I could improve on, and that’s why I respect him. Going against me, I mean, come on, that’s not easy. So, for him to come in and give me guidance, I respected that about him.”

Speaking with reporters in Las Vegas on Thursday, Adams described Alexander as “one of the most locked-down players in terms of vault that I’ve ever played.”

Assuming they both play on Monday, only time will tell how many players will line up against each other. After helping Alexander early, Adams was eager to test himself against the two-time All-Pro cornerback.

“I didn’t create this monster, but he certainly turned into a monster,” Adams said of Alexander. “It’s always good to see a player, especially a popular player like him, get drafted in the first round and realize his potential and live up to it. It’s fun to see him and it will definitely be fun to play against him.”

Adams remembers his time in Green Bay fondly, and feels “mutual love and respect” between him and the Packers organization. While the team only has 18 of the 53 players on Green Bay’s current active roster, Adams has stayed in touch with head coach Matt LaFleur and several of the team’s coaches and staff.

However, on Monday night, it will be all business, as the Packers represent the only NFL team Adams has yet to face in his storied career.

“I don’t know how many other times in my career — and certainly not up to this point — that I’ll be able to line up against someone in the green and gold,” Adams said. “It will take some adjustment and getting used to, but for the most part it will just be another game.”