BREAKING NEWS: Antonio Pierce downplays the impact of Davante Adams’ trade to the Jets, asserting that the Raiders will be “fine” as they move forward and adapt to the changes in their roster.giang

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce believes his team will be “fine” after trading six-time Pro Bowl wideout Davante Adams to the New York Jets.

“We didn’t have him the last few weeks. We’re fine,” Pierce said on Tuesday, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic.

Adams has not played since Week 3. He suffered a hamstring injury in practice heading into Week 4, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and days later requested a trade from the Raiders.

In his absence, the Raiders have gone 1-2, including a Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos that led to a quarterback change. Las Vegas now holds a 2-4 record with three games remaining before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.

After sitting out his last three games as a Raider, Adams is now expected to return to the field as a top target for Aaron Rodgers during the Jets’ Sunday contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Meanwhile, the Raiders will continue leaning on rookie tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who have been receiving the majority of targets from season-opening QB1 Gardner Minshew and current start Aidan O’Connell during Adams’ absence.

When asked what his message to the team would be after Adams’ departure, Pierce answered, “Next man up.”

Pierce continued: “I think all these other guys, who had a smaller role, now understanding their role’s bigger… You’re never going to replace an All-Pro receiver like Davante, but at the end of the day, we’re not trying to. We’re just trying to be the best versions of ourselves.”

Were the Raiders working to contend for a playoff spot, a deadline move for a WR1 who could take some of the pressure off Bowers and Meyers and replace Adams would be necessary.

But given the quarterback uncertainty in Las Vegas, ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently reported that some NFL teams believe the Raiders could decide to sell off more players at the deadline rather than bolstering for a postseason run.

Pierce answered “no” when asked by reporters if the Raiders were starting a rebuild by trading their star receiver for a conditional third-round pick, but general manager Tom Telesco’s decision as to which way to move at the deadline could end up hinging on what the team’s record looks like after Week 9.