Davante Adams is fully aware of the golden opportunity in front of the Green Bay Packers.
Not only are the Packers 8-2 and in first place in the NFC North entering the bye week, but the team is healthy on both sides of the ball – setting up a chance for the Packers to make a legitimate run at a first-round postseason bye over the final six weeks of the season.
“We are in a blessed position with our record and with our health right now. We have to make sure we don’t take that for granted and take care of business,” Adams said Monday.
The Packers have an NFL-high five wins over teams with a winning record, including Sunday’s victory over the Carolina Panthers. They’ll face another coming out of the bye when they travel to San Francisco to play the 49ers, who are currently in possession of the top seed in the NFC.
An 8-2 start, created by a 5-1 mark at home and important road wins in Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City, has put the Packers in a favorable spot, especially considering four of the team’s last six games are against teams currently possessing a losing record.
Now, the Packers have to take advantage of the opportunity ahead. The week off could provide a chance to rest up and get healthy, even if there isn’t a major injury on the roster currently.
Adams said he’ll be staying in Green Bay during the bye, both to workout at the facility and continue rehabbing his still-healing toe back to full health.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers took an opportunity after Sunday night’s win to lay out expectations for players during the bye week.
“I hope guys realize how important this week is to get mentally balanced and then to come back and get ready for a tough road trip,” Rodgers said. “Hopefully those guys understand how important the opportunity is and not doing anything stupid that’s going to jeopardize their role in that opportunity.”
Adams said Rodgers talked with the entire team on Monday.
“Just a friendly reminder just to conduct yourself in the right way during the break,” Adams said.
Older players on the roster, including Rodgers and Adams, understand the process and how rare these kinds of opportunities are.
“We’re asking for guys to do their part. And buy into something. This is optional accountability. You have the option to buy into what we’re doing, or not. It doesn’t stop when you leave the building. You carry that ‘G’ where ever you go,” Rodgers said.