Davante Adams Aug 14, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) reacts after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this week, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made some headlines when he insisted that his absence from organized team activities had no effect on his young receivers’ preparation. However, former Packers receiver Davante Adams does not agree with his old quarterback.

During an interview with The Pivot podcast this week, Adams was asked about Rodgers’ recent comments defending his decision to skip OTAs and the former Packers receiver speaks from firsthand experience when he says that Rodgers’ presence does matter – especially to young receivers.

“You would always notice in OTAs… there would be times he wasn’t practicing, and you would just notice people start to like, not fall off [by] not practicing hard, but it wasn’t the same as when Aaron is out there,” Adams said on the podcast, according to Pro Football Talk. “Like you don’t even think about it, you know what I’m saying? It’s like somebody doing something versus like with nobody watching-type thing. You’re obviously gonna run a little harder [if] your coach is watching you. So it was kind of that type of effect, and he made me a better player out of that, because the consistency came from that.”

Based on Adams’ comments, it sounds like the Packers’ young receivers certainly could have benefited from Rodgers joining the team during OTAs, after all, especially given Rodgers’ recent frustrations with the unit.

[The Pivot Podcast, Pro Football Talk]