Jane Njoku

The New York Jets firing Robert Saleh did not stop them from pursuing Davante Adams. 

One week after they fired their head coach and less than 24 hours after a prime-time defeat to the Buffalo Bills, they agreed to trade Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders get a conditional 2025 third-round pick in exchange for Davante. 

The third-rounder could become a second-round pick if Adams becomes a first- or second-team All-Pro this season, or if he is on the active roster, should New York reach the AFC Championship Game or Super Bowl LIX. 

New York agreed to cover the rest of Adams’ salary in order to finalise the deal. His salary is $16.89 million and he also has $510,000 in per-game active roster bonuses. The Jets will pay the prorated part, which is up to $11.6 million. 

Afterwards, the Jets and Adams agreed on a contract restructure for 2024, reducing the salary cap hit. They might have to adjust the 2025 and 2026 portions of the contract too. 

Adams is already in New York’s building and will complete a physical exam. He missed the last three matches because of a hamstring injury, but per reports, the injury is all healed now. 

“Feeling great,” Adams said during an unexpected Tuesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. He was there with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who he spent the last eight years catching passes for as a Green Bay Packer.

“Was working with the staff over in Vegas the whole time. They got me back right,” Adams added. “Fortunately, I’ll be ready to roll. I’m sure there’s a few new little nuances but for the most part a lot of the same verbiage. Still the same O.G. right here. Should be able to pick up where we left off. That’s the idea.”

William Nylander did not show up for practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday due to an illness and it is uncertain if he will be available against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. 

“It’s up in the air right now,” coach Craig Berube said. “We will see how he feels later on. I’ll find out more later but hopefully he is fine. We will see.”

Nylander practiced on Monday after scoring two goals in 20:52 in the Maple Leafs’ 4-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. 

John Tavares came back to practice after being absent in the match between Pittsburgh and Monday practice due to an illness.

“It’s been a battle for a few days,” Tavares said. “Unfortunately that’s the way it goes sometimes so it’s still kind of coming around, just getting my energy back. I lost a little bit of weight too but that’s been improving and getting better.”

In Tavares’ absence, Maxi Domi centered a line alongside left wing Bobb McMann and right wing Max Pacioretty. Tavares was between left wing Pontus Holmberg and right wing Nicholas Robertson. 

“Great to see J.T. out there today,” Berube said. “He looked like he was low energy, it’s hard but he’s a good pro, he got out today, got sweaty and I’m sure he’ll feel better later.”

Goalie Joseph Woll showed up for the second day in a row to practice, but left before the match. Woll missed all of the Maple Leafs’ first three matches due to a lower body injury. 

“He’s improving,” Berube said. “Went out there again on the ice today. No issues after yesterday on the ice which is great news. There’s a good chance he could be with us in practice tomorrow morning.” 

Freddie Freeman was expected to sit out in the Los Angeles Dodgers VS New York Yankees game. But before Los Angeles announced their lineup, he came out of the home dugout and performed his pregame drills. Freeman limped all throughout his high knees and seemed uneasy running down the first-base line. 

“No chance,” shortstop Miguel Rojas said when he was asked if he expected Freeman to dress up for the match. “I had it [at] like 5%, especially the way he got here [that afternoon]. I don’t think anybody expected him to play. It was a borderline miracle.”

Most players would have nursed their injury, but Freeman played through a bone bruise that kept him absent for four to six weeks. He approached Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman and asked them to put him in the lineup. 

“I told Charlie, ‘I don’t know if Daddy is going to be able to play today,’’Freeman said, referencing a conversation he had with his son.

As the playoffs continue, Freddie’s status will remain a game-time decision. According to Roberts, Freeman will be in the starting lineup, until he is not. But as limps for each match, he continues to bring his best for the team, posting an average of .273 in six matches. 

“I think we all believe that if you sacrifice something, then it means more,” Roberts said. “He’s sacrificing his body right now. He’s doing a lot that people don’t know about to stay on the field. And so, when he’s doing that, it means more to him.”

Since Freeman suffered a sprain on September 26th, he has practically lived in the trainer’s room. On matchdays, he shows up hours before his teammates. First, he will decrease the swelling, a process made harder by playing through injury. 

When he and the trainers have worked on that, the first baseman than tests out the new procedure on the pitch. He does as much pregame drills as he can manage. Freeman takes some ground balls at first base and tries simulating breaking to the bag. 

“What he’s doing for us has been unbelievable,” Muncy said. “You can’t ask a guy to go out there and put his body on the line every single night like that. I know it’s the playoffs, but what he’s doing has been Gladiator-style for us. We definitely appreciate it.”

Everytime Freeman plays, he stuns his teammates. Before Game 4 of the NDLS, as Los Angeles faced elimination against the San Diego Padres, it was the team’s turn to pay Freddie back. He couldn’t play in consecutive matches. 

“We all told Freddie, ‘We got you,’” Muncy said. “Then, we showed up in [Game 5] and he said, ‘Don’t worry, guys. I got you tonight.’’