Source: Adams unlikely to play against Cards

The Green Bay Packers likely will be without receiver Davante Adams during Saturday night’s rematch with the Arizona Cardinals.

Early tests on Adams’ injured right knee showed a possible MCL sprain, according to an NFL source. The second-year receiver left at the beginning of the third quarter of Sunday’s 35-18 win over Washington and didn’t return.

Afterward, Adams said he was believed to have avoided a significant knee injury. MCL sprains vary in their degree of severity and typically don’t require surgery. Tight end Andrew Quarless missed 11 games after sustaining a MCL tear in Week 3 and, but still didn’t undergo surgery.

Adams struggled with drops this season, but played well in the first half against Washington. He hauled in a contested 20-yard pass along the sideline from quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the second quarter and then caught a 10-yard touchdown two plays later to give Green Bay a 17-11 lead before halftime.

“He’s put together two really good weeks of practice and you go back and you look at the last two games that we’ve played in, he’s truly had good weeks,” said offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett Monday. “You go back and look at the third-down conversion he had, he goes up and high-points the football and comes down and makes the play. I mean, it’s little things like that that we’ll continue to need (and) he will continue to need to do as we move forward.”

Adams was expected to have a significant role in the Packers’ offense after Jordy Nelson tore his ACL in the second preseason game in Pittsburgh, but a sprained ankle he sustained in Week 2 against Seattle bothered him until the bye week.

He finished the year with only 50 catches for 483 yards (9.7 yards per catch) and one touchdown. Those regular-season struggles are what made his contributions against Washington even more satisfying for Rodgers, who’s been one of Adams’ biggest public supporters.

“Davante’s turned into Mr. January around here,” said Rodgers, referring to Adams’ seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown in last year’s 26-21 playoff win over Dallas. “He had a couple really nice catches.”

Adams’ absence would leave an offense already operating without Nelson and rookie third-round pick Ty Montgomery with one less receiver going into the Packers’ divisional-round playoff game in Arizona, which trounced Green Bay 38-8 in Week 16.

Second-year receiver Jared Abbrederis played extensively in Adams’ absence, catching two passes for 14 yards and a successful two-point conversion. The Packers frequently used Abbrederis in the slot Sunday when Randall Cobb was lining up out of the backfield. Special-teams stalwart Jeff Janis could also be an option.

Depending on how much time Adams misses, the Packers could promote receiver Ed Williams from the practice squad. An undrafted rookie out of Fort Hays State, Williams impressed after being a late addition in training camp. He spent the entire season on the Packers’ practice squad.

whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.