In the wake of the Buffalo Bills’ dominant 38-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 of the NFL season, the game was marred by a controversial hit that forced star wide receiver Davante Adams to exit for a concussion evaluation. The hit, delivered by Bills safety Taylor Rapp, drew a flag for unnecessary roughness and sparked a war of words between the two players.
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Davante Adams Controversial Hit
The game was all but decided when the hit occurred, with the Bills comfortably leading by 25 points late in the fourth quarter. Taylor Rapp, who entered the contest late, launched himself into Davante Adams, resulting in a helmet-to-helmet collision.
Adams, understandably upset by the hit, initially declined to comment but later opened up about his feelings. He labeled the hit as “completely unnecessary” and criticized Rapp’s style of play, accusing him of being “out of control” and lacking a true purpose on the field.
Taylor Rapp’s Background
To understand the context better, it’s essential to look at Taylor Rapp’s journey to this point. Rapp was projected to receive a more lucrative three-year, $30 million contract as a free agent but ended up signing a one-year, $1.7 million deal with the Bills due to a sluggish safety market.
Despite being behind established safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer on the depth chart, Rapp has been active this season. His impressive track record with the Los Angeles Rams, where he started 48 games and earned positive grades from Pro Football Focus, made him an attractive addition to the Bills’ defense.
Davante Adams’ Perspective
Adams, on the other hand, is a marquee wide receiver who signed a hefty five-year, $140 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders last year.
His comments about Rapp’s hit reflect his frustration with the situation. Adams emphasized that such plays could lead to players not being on the field and called for Rapp to learn how to play the game “the right way.”
Implications For Both Players
The fallout from this incident could have significant implications for both Davante Adams and Taylor Rapp. Adams, a key player for the Raiders, was listed on the injury report as being in the league’s concussion protocol.
While he participated in practice, his health is a concern, and any prolonged absence could affect the Raiders’ offensive performance.
For Rapp, his aggressive playing style, while earning him a reputation for hard hits, might come under scrutiny. The NFL is expected to announce a fine for his unnecessary roughness penalty, adding financial consequences to the mix.
