Davante Adams has spent enough time across from Patrick Surtain II to know exactly what he’s up against.
And ahead of Sunday night’s matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos, the Rams receiver made it clear he holds the Broncos corner in especially high regard.
"I have a lot of respect for a lot of guys, but he's definitely up there as far as one of the ones I have the most respect for," Adams said of Surtain, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic.
Adams also pointed to traits that make Surtain such a tough assignment.
Adams added that Surtain has "a lot of stuff you can't teach at that position."
The two have built plenty of familiarity over the years, dating back to Adams’ time with the Las Vegas Raiders. They’ve gone head-to-head four times, and those meetings have already produced a few notable moments.
One of the biggest came in 2022, when Adams hauled in a 35-yard walk-off touchdown in overtime against Denver with Surtain in coverage. Adams also acknowledged this week that Surtain got the better of him when they met again in Denver the following season.
"We've had some battles in the past," Adams said, according to the Rams' official website.
Now the matchup gets another chapter with the Broncos hosting the Rams on Sunday night.
Adams is coming off a big Week 2 performance, catching eight passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns in Los Angeles’ win over the New York Giants.
That production matters even more with Puka Nacua’s status up in the air. Nacua was listed as doubtful Friday after missing practice all week because of a hip injury.
If Nacua can’t go, the Adams-Surtain showdown could end up carrying even more weight as one of the defining individual battles of the night.
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This one could demand even more than just handling Stafford. Los Angeles also brings Davante Adams into the mix and a run game that can keep a defense from settling in, which puts a premium on discipline and communication for Denver. It comes at a time when the Broncos offense is already dealing with injuries and inconsistent quarterback play, so Joseph's unit may again need to carry a heavy load while the rest of the team sorts out its own issues. [Read more 🡒]