Davante Adams, the Los Angeles Rams’ veteran wide receiver entering his 13th NFL season at age 33, is embracing a new approach to training camp: scheduled rest days. This strategy, aimed at preserving players’ health and longevity, marks a departure from the old-school mentality that favored relentless practice sessions, often pushing athletes to their limits.

Adams and several other Rams veterans have implemented rest periods during the team’s training activities at Loyola Marymount University. The shift reflects a broader trend in professional football, where teams increasingly prioritize injury prevention and peak performance during the regular season over the notion of endurance testing in summer practices.

“Training camp is not supposed to come out here and tear your body down to separate the boys from the men,” Adams said following a recent practice session. He acknowledged the traditional mindset but noted that there are more effective ways to demonstrate toughness without physically overexerting players.

Despite a career defined by resilience—earning six Pro Bowls, three All-Pro nods, over 12,000 receiving yards, and 117 touchdowns—Adams admits that taking an occasional day off from practice is a new challenge. He described himself as naturally resistant to rest but recognized that intentional recovery is critical to his ability to perform later in the season. “If you don’t tell me not to practice, you’re going to see me out there all day and it’s going to be a lot more stress on those legs,” he said.

Rams head coach Sean McVay supports this approach, emphasizing the need to “protect [players] from themselves” because their work ethic often drives them to overexertion. McVay, now in his 10th season leading the team, described his growing patience and understanding of managing veteran players’ workloads. “I’m getting more patient as I’m getting older,” he said.

The team is applying similar caution with other key players, including reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, who has missed multiple days of practice due to lower-body soreness. McVay stressed that Garrett’s absence is precautionary and does not raise concerns, pointing to the organization’s focus on maintaining player health ahead of an upcoming season that begins with a game nearly 8,000 miles away in Melbourne, Australia.

Adams continues to train rigorously, particularly noting his ongoing on-field matchups with new All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, describing their competition as “the epitome of iron sharpens iron.” While Adams’s talent remains evident, both he and the team recognize the importance of balancing effort with rest to ensure peak performance when it counts most.

The Rams’ measured approach reflects a league-wide evolution in training camp philosophy. Rather than enduring unnecessary physical tolls during summer practices, teams are managing repetitions and rest to keep veteran players like Adams and quarterback Matthew Stafford—who is 38 years old—mentally and physically ready for the rigors of the season.

With playoffs and a potential championship still the ultimate goal, the Rams hope their strategy will keep their core players healthy and effective as the season progresses. Adams recalled a recent exchange with Stafford after their NFC Championship loss last season, underscoring their shared desire for a Super Bowl title and the importance of preserving their strength for the journey ahead.