Can Raiders ditch drama in time for trip to Denver?

Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce isn’t paying any attention to outside noise as he tries to get his team ready for a meeting with the host Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Multiple media outlets reported Tuesday that star wide receiver Davante Adams told the Raiders (2-2) that he wants to be traded. Adams will be sidelined again on Sunday due to a hamstring injury that kept him out of Las Vegas’ 20-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns last week.

Pierce added another layer to the situation when he liked an Instagram post that said it wouldn’t be surprising if Adams’ days in Las Vegas were over. Whether Pierce meant to give out the like is unknown. When asked about it, all he said was, “Yeah, I’m focused on Denver.”

Pierce added of the contest against the Broncos (2-2), “That’s my only focus. I get paid here to get ready each and every week for the opponent. I don’t blink. I don’t flinch. I’ve said it before: I’ve been through enough in my life with adversity and stuff that it doesn’t bother me. I just move forward.

“The next obstacle in front of me is the Denver Broncos, and that’s what I presented to my team.”

Denver poses quite the obstacle, boasting one of the best defenses in the league through the first four weeks of the season. The Broncos allow the third-fewest points per game (13.8) and third-fewest passing yards per game (146.0), which could spell trouble for an Adams-less Raiders offense.

One player who could see an expanded role for Las Vegas is rookie tight end Brock Bowers. While he has yet to find the end zone, the first-round pick out of Georgia is second among all tight ends in receptions (20) and receiving yards (216). He is coming off his quietest game as a pro, as he caught only two balls for 19 yards against the Browns.

With the help of its defense, Denver will try to snap an eight-game losing streak against Las Vegas that dates back to 2020. It’s a skid that doesn’t intimidate Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton.

“We’ve got a big game Sunday,” Sutton said. “The most important game is the one we’re about to get ready to go play. Whatever happened in the past is the past. The thing we can focus on is this team we have right now and the team we’re about to go play this year.”

Sutton hauled in three catches for 60 yards and was responsible for the only touchdown scored by either side in Denver’s 10-9 win over the New York Jets last Sunday.

Denver rookie Bo Nix completed 12 of 25 passes for 60 yards and the score — his first career touchdown pass — against the Jets, and he is looking forward to his first taste of the rivalry between the Broncos and Raiders.

“I don’t think you really truly understand it, I think, until you play in your first one,” Nix said. “I’m excited to play Sunday. I know it’s important for this organization.”

Las Vegas enters the game short-handed, as six players were ruled out on Friday due to injuries. The players unavailable on Sunday include Adams, running back Zamir White (groin), right tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee, ankle), linebacker Luke Masterson (knee), safety Trey Taylor (knee) and cornerback Decamerion Richardson (hamstring).

In addition, Raiders tight end Michael Mayer will be absent due to personal reasons for a second straight week. Defensive end Maxx Crosby (ankle) was listed as questionable.

The Raiders placed Masterson on injured reserve on Saturday, signed defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson from the practice squad to the active roster and designated running back Sincere McCormick and wide receiver Alex Bachman as game-day elevations.

Broncos running back Tyler Badie, who sustained a back injury against the Jets, was the only Denver player to miss practice on Friday. He already was ruled out for the game when the team placed him on injured reserve on Saturday. Denver elevated inside linebacker Levelle Bailey from the practice squad.

–Field Level Media

Bills look to get swagger back against Texans in big early battle

The Buffalo Bills’ trip to face the Houston Texans on Sunday is arguably the marquee early game on the NFL schedule for Week 5.

Add in the opportunity for Stefon Diggs to get back at his most recent employer, and this one carries a level of intrigue that will make even casual fans want to tune in.

Diggs played from 2020-23 for Buffalo, tallying at least 103 receptions in all four seasons and catching a total of 37 touchdown passes. However, when the offense became more run-oriented late last year following the firing of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, Diggs made noises about his reduced role.

The Bills traded him along with two late-round picks to Houston on April 3 for a second-round pick in next year’s draft. They also swallowed $31 million of dead salary-cap money in the trade, the most a team has taken on to move a wide receiver.

So far, Diggs has 25 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, providing second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud with a veteran target and taking pressure off younger receivers such as Nico Collins. With Diggs attracting extra attention from opponents, Collins leads the league with 489 receiving yards.

“What makes Diggs a good fit is, first, he’s a smart player,” second-year Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He can play multiple positions, so we’re able to move him around a lot to try to get him in favorable matchups.

“And he has some of the best hands that I’ve seen. He does a good job catching the ball, but just his ability to play multiple spots for us really opens the playbook up.”

Diggs caught five passes for 69 yards last week as the Texans (3-1) topped Jacksonville 24-20, enabling them to stay atop the AFC South by a game over the Indianapolis Colts.

Meanwhile, Diggs’ old team wore its first loss last week, getting routed 35-10 in Baltimore as Derrick Henry turned back the clock to his Tennessee Titans prime for 199 yards on 24 carries with two total touchdowns. Buffalo (3-1) was outrushed 271 yards to 81.

It was a striking result for the AFC’s highest-scoring offense (30.5 points per game), as the Bills managed only 236 total yards (to the Ravens’ 427) and picked up only 12 first downs to Baltimore’s 22.

The Bills’ defense also took a hit off the field Wednesday when linebacker Von Miller drew a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The active leader among NFL players in sacks with 126.5, Miller is tied for the team lead this season with three.

“The job is to move forward, right? I’ve really been proud of the way the guys have stepped up,” Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said. “They’ve had to deal with quite a few situations, injuries, now in this case the suspension with Von. So I expect the same, quite honestly.”

One thing that could help offset Miller’s absence would be the presence of Terrel Bernard on the field. Buffalo’s starting middle linebacker was out the past two games with a pectoral injury but returned to practice on a limited basis this week and is listed as questionable for Sunday.

The Bills’ leading receiver Khalil Shakir (18 catches, 230 yards, two touchdowns) as well as defensive tackles Ed Oliver and Austin Johnson and safety Taylor Rapp have been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Shakir (ankle), Johnson (oblique) and Rapp (concussion protocol) did not practice all week after sustaining their respective injuries in the loss to the Ravens. Oliver, however, sustained a hamstring injury during practice on Thursday.

The Texans have ruled out running back Joe Mixon (ankle) as well as defensive linemen Derek Barnett (shoulder), Jerry Hughes (hip) and Kurt Hinish (calf). Running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring), who has played in only one game this season, was among six Houston players listed as questionable.

In better news, receiver Tank Dell, who missed last Sunday’s victory over the Jaguars because of bruised ribs, was a limited participant in practices Wednesday and Thursday. Dell practiced in full on Friday and was not given a designation.

The teams have split 10 regular-season meetings. Buffalo took a 40-0 win in the clubs’ last matchup three years ago in Orchard Park, N.Y.

–Field Level Media

Packers’ Jordan Love getting back to full strength with Rams up next

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love gladly sported a green home jersey instead of a red no-contact one at practice last week.

After missing two games with a knee injury sustained late in Week 1, Love welcomed everything associated with being under center, including the physicality.

“That was the big test going into the game, how I respond to getting hit,” Love said. “So, it definitely gives me more confidence. I know going into the game that it’s football. I’m going to get hit at some point.”

After nearly rallying from an early four-score deficit against the Minnesota Vikings, Love and the Packers will try to climb above .500 when they visit the banged-up Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.

Los Angeles (1-3) remains without top wide receivers Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee).

The Rams entered the red zone four times in their Week 4 visit to Chicago but had just one touchdown to show for it in a 24-18 loss to the Bears.

Still, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was 20 of 29 passing for 224 yards and an interception, bolstered his connection with receiver Jordan Whittington, who had a team-high six receptions for 62 yards.

“He’s obviously done a really nice job stepping in with his opportunities,” Stafford said of Whittington. “Done a really nice job catching and running the last couple weeks. … You go out there and earn it, you know. You earn those opportunities, you earn the trust, you earn all that. And he’s come in with the right attitude since Day 1 and it’s showing.”

As the passing game adjusts, Kyren Williams continues to be a stabilizing presence in the backfield. Williams ran 19 times for 94 yards and a touchdown against Chicago. He has scored at least one TD on the ground in seven straight games dating back to last season.

Green Bay (2-2) fell behind 28-0 in the second quarter versus the Vikings. The Packers lost 31-29, though, as Love overcame struggles with accuracy and heavy blitzing from Minnesota to pass for a career-best 389 yards.

Love also had a career-high 54 passing attempts, completing 32, to go along with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

“It looks like he’s just getting back in the groove,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Love. “Like I mentioned the other day, not that we want to throw 50-some odd times in a game, but I thought the more we threw, the better he got.”

Green Bay will be without starting wide receiver Romeo Doubs after suspending him for one game on Saturday for conduct detrimental to the team. Doubs missed practice on Thursday and Friday for what the team called personal reasons and he was listed as doubtful. Media reports said the issue was not related to injury or a family matter, but the receiver’s unhappiness with his use in the passing game.

The Packers also may not have starting receiver Christian Watson, who left the Minnesota game with an ankle injury but won’t be placed on injured reserve. Watson did not practice Wednesday through Friday and was listed as doubtful for Sunday.

Green Bay defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt (ankle) was ruled out, while cornerback Jaire Alexander (groin), guard/tackle Elgton Jenkins (knee), tight end Luke Musgrave (ankle), defensive lineman Jonathan Ford (calf), linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hip), tackle/guard Jordan Morgan (shoulder) and cornerback Carrington Valentine (ankle) were all listed as questionable.

Rams defensive end Larrell Murchison (forearm) is unavailable for Sunday.

The Packers have won eight of their past nine regular-season games against Los Angeles.

–Field Level Media

Trying to overcome 0-4 start, Jaguars collide with Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars are the NFL’s only remaining winless team after four games, and a climb out of that big of a hole to reach the postseason has occurred just once in league history.

Jacksonville isn’t waving the white flag, but prospects of a turnaround will grow even bleaker if the Jaguars don’t defeat the visiting Indianapolis Colts in an AFC South clash on Sunday.

The 1992 San Diego Chargers are the lone 0-4 team to recover and reach the playoffs. That team started slowly while adjusting to new coach Bobby Ross and had strong leadership from Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau.

In Jacksonville, coach Doug Pederson is in his third season and is fielding questions about losing the locker room. His Jaguars have been outscored 109-60 to start the campaign.

“I talk to these guys every day. I see them every day. And no, I have not lost the locker room,” Pederson said Wednesday. “I think these guys have done everything I’ve asked. They continue to play and practice hard and battle.”

Pederson said the team will not make any excuses for the slow start that includes last week’s 24-20 road loss to the Houston Texans. Yet on the other hand, he seemed to point blame toward the players.

“We need our elite players to play elite. And that’s it,” Pederson said. “Sometimes, that’s what it comes down to. Are they going to be elite every week?”

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is getting paid like he’s elite — he was given a five-year, $275 million extension in the offseason — but he’s not performing at that level.

Lawrence’s completion percentage of 53.3 is second worst in the NFL among qualifiers — only Anthony Richardson (50.6) of the Colts is lower.

Worse is that the Jaguars (0-4) have lost each of Lawrence’s past nine starts.

“I’ve dealt with a few of these (slumps) in my career unfortunately. It’s never fun,” Lawrence said Wednesday. “You have to be thick-skinned. You have to be persistent when you’re in a situation like this. Keep your head down and keep working.”

Indianapolis (2-2) has lost in each of its past nine visits to Jacksonville.

Colts coach Shane Steichen isn’t the least bit concerned with the Jaguars’ record.

“I don’t care that they’re 0-4,” Steichen said. “They’re a damn good football team. They’ve had some close games, obviously, that could have went either way. And we’ve got a division opponent that we gotta go beat.”

It appears the Colts won’t have Richardson (oblique) available after he exited last week’s 27-24 home victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Richardson was a limited practice participant on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and was downgraded to doubtful on Saturday. Joe Flacco likely will step in and start after he completed 16 of 26 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh.

Running back Jonathan Taylor injured an ankle against the Steelers and was ruled out after missing practice every day this week. Taylor is fifth in the NFL in rushing yardage (349) and missed practice on Wednesday. Trey Sermon will start in Taylor’s place.

Defensive end Kwity Paye (quadricep) and cornerback Kenny Moore (hip) were ruled out, center Ryan Kelly (neck) was downgraded to doubtful, and tackle Braden Smith (knee) is questionable.

Jacksonville star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (concussion) missed practice on Wednesday, but returned in a limited capacity Thursday and Friday.

Hines-Allen is questionable along with five of his teammates: tight end Evan Engram (hamstring), linebacker Yasir Abdullah (neck), linebacker Devin Lloyd (knee), safety Darnell Savage (quadricep) and safety Daniel Thomas (hamstring). Engram has missed the past three games and is not expected to play, per an ESPN report on Saturday.

–Field Level Media