AUGUST 17: O’Connell clarified on Monday that Adams suffered a torn quad tendon (video link). Adams had the same injury in 2022, but this time it occurred in his other leg. A move to injured reserve has now taken place.
AUGUST 16, 6:13pm: Adams did indeed suffer a season-ending injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. There are no further details available.
12:42pm: It sounds as if Jamal Adams’ first season with the Vikings may already be over. The three-time Pro Bowler exited Minnesota’s first preseason game on Saturday with a right knee injury, as ESPN’s Kevin Seifert details. Head coach Kevin O’Connell did not sound optimistic about Adams’ prognosis.
“You’re just crushed for him,” O’Connell said on the team broadcast after halftime (via Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune). “We’re gonna miss him. You absolutely hate to see that.”
After the game was over, O’Connell added, “initial exam does not look good” (via Seifert).
While there is still no word on imaging results, the HC’s remarks make it sound as if Adams will miss at least an extended period of time, if not the entirety of the 2026 season. That would be yet another difficult blow for the the soon-to-be 31-year-old, whose once-promising career has been derailed by an assortment of injuries.
Last year, Adams – who had not appeared in double-digit games since 2021 – played in all 17 games (four starts) for the Raiders. He enjoyed a 40% defensive snap share and collected 45 tackles, five TFL, a forced fumble, and a sack. Pro Football Focus gave Adams the 33rd-highest grade out of 88 qualified linebackers (the longtime safety, whose best work has always come in the box or as a safety blitzer, made the switch to LB upon joining Las Vegas).
Adams’ efforts on the NFL’s worst team did not lead to much interest when he hit the open market again this offseason. In fact, there were no public reports connecting him to a club before he signed with the Vikings for the veteran minimum right before training camp.
When he signed with Minnesota, the expectation was that he would remain at linebacker. However, Seifert says the Vikes had been deploying him at both safety and linebacker in training camp, and his final play in the preseason contest came on pass defense. Accomplished defensive coordinator Brian Flores may have been able to use Adams as something of a chess piece, but it appears that will not be the case.
It is unclear what impact, if any, Adams’ injury will have on Harrison Smith, who remains unsigned. A May report indicated Minnesota is amenable to bringing the decorated safety back for what would be a 15th season, but there have been no subsequent updates in that regard.
