Chiefs' AFC West Rival Dealing With Davante Drama

Though teams approach it differently, NFL stars sitting out preseason games isn't a new concept.

While Patrick Mahomes played the first series of the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs' first exhibition game last weekend, the Cowboys' Dak Prescott didn't even suit up and several times during his career in Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott went all preseason without a single carry.

When it's a prima donna receiver, however, the philosophy can get a little tricky as the Chiefs' AFC West rival Las Vegas Raiders are finding out.

CeeDee Lamb is executing a "hold out" from Cowboys' training camp. Brandon Aiyuk is engaged in a "hold in" with the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile in Las Vegas, Davante Adams is healthy. Under contract. But, um, is also planning to not play in his team's preseason games simply because he considers himself above it.

Call it a "sit out"?

“A few reps could help, but just based off the risk, it's not on mind as something that I'm looking forward to," Adams said this week. "I look forward to the games to watch the guys go at it and watch the team get better and all the things that could go on with that. But I'm definitely not … if I'm choosing, I'm not playing.”

News flash: Raiders' coach Antonio Pierce is reminding everyone - including Adams - that it his team and that players don't choose to play or not.

Said Pierce in response to Adams' stance: “No, if you're healthy, you'll play.”

Adams, formerly a star on the Green Bay Packers, hasn't caught a preseason pass since 2017.

But Pierce is trying to make a stern stand in Las Vegas, and he has sound reasoning backing him.

The Raiders are in flux. Not only have they not won a playoff game since 2002 and are only 4-18 against the Chiefs since 2013, past the halfway point of training camp they still don't have a starting quarterback.

Related: Should Brandon Aiyuk Request Trade to Chiefs?

Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell are battling for the job, and meshing with the team's No. 1 receiver could be a deciding factor on who ultimate is the Week 1 starter. Hard to achieve if Adams is on the sidelines in street clothes.

The Raiders host the Cowboys Saturday night at 9 in their second preseason game.