Sauce Gardner eager for Justin Jefferson matchup as Davante Adams rumors swirl

Sauce Gardner’s time spent with Davante Adams doesn’t match the eight seasons the receiver played with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.But the two-time All-Pro Jets cornerback remembers forging a “pretty cool” bond two years ago at the Pro Bowl with Adams, who has listed the Jets among his leading destinations after requesting a trade from the Raiders earlier this week.Gardner didn’t want to address those trade rumors other than to say, “I know the coaches and the front office are going to do whatever they feel is best for the team.”Still, he gushed about the 31-year-old Adams, who is expected to miss his second straight game this week for Las Vegas due to a hamstring injury.“I know Aaron and Davante have a great relationship.And me and Davante got a pretty cool relationship, too,” Gardner told The Post before practice Thursday in Florham Park.

“We spent a lot of time together at the Pro Bowl talking with each other.I remember my rookie year [in 2022], we were talking a lot.“And then I was really trying to go up against him in practice as much as I could when we were doing just walk-throughs in the red zone.

I really tried to watch how he ran his routes, because I knew I had to play him last year.He’s an incredible player and a good person, and whatever happens with [the trade request] happens.”In the meantime, Gardner and the Jets will face another upper echelon receiver Sunday in London in Justin Jefferson, who has posted 358 receiving yards and four touchdowns during the Vikings’ 4-0 start.As a rookie, Gardner helped limit Jefferson to 45 receiving yards in a loss in Minnesota in December 2022.“Man, he can do everything.

Elite route runner, he’s got elite hands.He’s a competitor.

He’s got confidence.He’s everything that you look for in a receiver,” Gardner said.

“Obviously I haven’t played him in a couple of years, but I still remember how it was like going against him.“We were really out there competing.Me, him, D.J...