LOS ANGELES (AP) — Davante Adams missed practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday to rest a hamstring injury, but coach Sean McVay doesn't think it will prevent his star receiver from playing Sunday.
Right tackle Rob Havenstein also missed practice with an ankle injury, but McVay is similarly optimistic about the longtime starter.
Adams and Havenstein typically receive veteran rest days during a normal week of practice, but McVay acknowledged the Rams (2-1) also have injury concerns about the two key contributors to the NFL's fifth-ranked offense heading into a visit from Indianapolis (3-0) this weekend.
“They came in (and) they're a little sore,” McVay said. “We'll take it a day at a time with those guys. Not expecting it to affect their game status.”
Adams has 213 yards and two touchdown receptions in his first three games for the Rams, although his 13 catches came on 29 targets. The six-time Pro Bowl selection is still working on a bond with quarterback Matthew Stafford while Los Angeles relies heavily on Puka Nacua, whose 29 receptions and 333 yards both lead the NFL.
After catching a touchdown pass in the first quarter, Adams didn't have a reception in the second half of the Rams' 33-26 loss at Philadelphia last Sunday. He was unable to haul in a contested pass in the end zone that could have won the game for Los Angeles in the fourth quarter.
The 33-year-old Havenstein is an 11-year starter on the Rams' line and the only remaining player on the roster who began his career in St. Louis.
The Rams are averaging a robust 363.7 yards per game this season, but their 24.3 points per game are just 11th in the league. That’s because they’re 23rd in touchdown percentage on trips to the red zone, getting the ball in the end zone only 46.2% of the time.
After Joshua Karty kicked four field goals for the Rams in Philadelphia, his final two attempts were blocked, allowing the Eagles to steal the win after trailing by 19 points in the second half — the biggest lead ever blown by a McVay team.
Starting left guard Steve Avila was limited in practice with the ankle injury that has kept him out for the past two games. McVay isn't sure whether Avila, who did about half of the work from a normal practice, will make his return against the unbeaten Colts.
Guard Justin Dedich, who started in Avila's place against Philadelphia, was limited in practice by a chest injury. Tight end Colby Parkinson is still listed as limited by a shoulder injury that sidelined him for one game this month. Defensive end Braden Fiske (oblique) and safety Kam Kinchens (shoulders) also were limited.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams speaks during a news conference after the Rams defeated the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Bichette and the New York Mets agreed Friday to a $126 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.
A two-time All-Star at shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays, Bichette will move to third base with the Mets, who have Francisco Lindor at shortstop. Bichette has never played a professional game at the hot corner.
Bichette can opt out of the deal after the first or second season to become a free agent again. He would receive $47 million for one year and $89 million for two years, the person said.
The deal does not contain any deferred money and Bichette gets a full no-trade provision. His $42 million average annual value ties for the sixth-highest in baseball history.
It was the latest big development in an eventful offseason for the Mets, who angered fans by letting popular slugger Pete Alonso and star closer Edwin Díaz leave in free agency. President of baseball operations David Stearns also traded two other stalwarts in outfielder Brandon Nimmo and versatile veteran Jeff McNeil — both homegrown players.
New York signed closer Devin Williams to a $51 million, three-year contract, infielder Jorge Polanco to a $40 million, two-year deal and reliever Luke Weaver to a $22 million, two-year agreement.
Although he lacks Alonso's prodigious power, Bichette is a proven hitter with lightning-fast hands and a penchant for line-drive doubles. He would give the Mets a dangerous right-handed bat to help complement lefty slugger Juan Soto.
Because of his inexperience at third, however, Bichette becomes the latest question mark in the field for New York even though Stearns has insisted the team must improve its defense and is determined to do so.
Polanco has one pitch of major league experience at first base, where he and Mark Vientos, previously a third baseman, are the leading candidates to replace Alonso.
New York had planned to start Brett Baty at third, where he provides a strong glove. Baty, who also has experience at second base, is viewed as a versatile defender who could see time in the outfield and perhaps at first.
Or, the Mets could look to trade Baty for pitching or outfield help. Gold Glove winner Marcus Semien is set to play second after arriving from Texas in a November trade for Nimmo.
Bichette batted .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 139 games for the Blue Jays last year. He homered off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Late last season, Bichette sprained his left knee in a Sept. 6 collision with New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, keeping the infielder out of the lineup until the World Series. He returned for Game 1 against the Dodgers and played second base for the first time in six years.
Bichette led the American League in hits in 2021 and 2022. He finished second in the major leagues in batting average last season to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.
Bichette turned down a $22,025,000 qualifying offer from the Blue Jays in November, so they would receive an extra draft pick in July after the fourth round if he completes his deal with the Mets.
New York would forfeit its second- and fifth-highest draft picks, along with $1 million in 2027 international signing bonus pool allocation.
Bichette was one of the last remaining big-name hitters on the free agent market after outfielder Kyle Tucker spurned the Mets and agreed Thursday to a $240 million, four-year contract with the Dodgers.
Bichette, who turns 28 in March, has spent his entire career with the Blue Jays since they selected him in the second round of the 2016 amateur draft. He is a .294 career hitter with 111 home runs and an .806 OPS in 748 major league games.
He is a son of former big league slugger Dante Bichette, a four-time All-Star outfielder.
AP Baseball Writers Ronald Blum and David Brandt and AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston contributed to this report.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
FILE - Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette celebrates his three run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning in Game 7 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
FILE - New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns responds to questions during a news conference about MLB trade deadline deals, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)
