The Minnesota Vikings’ preseason opener ended with a 13-10 victory over the New York Giants, but the result became secondary when Jamal Adams was carted off the field with a right knee injury.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game that the initial examination “does not look good.” The Vikings will wait for imaging before confirming the exact diagnosis, but the early reaction from the sideline and the locker room made clear how seriously the organization views the situation.
Adams was injured in the second quarter while defending a receiver in coverage. He had drifted off the line of scrimmage and was working backward when he slipped and remained on the turf. Medical personnel attended to him for several minutes before he was taken to the locker room on a cart.
O’Connell did not hide his disappointment.
“This guy has come in and impacted our organization,” O’Connell said. “His energy every day, affecting people in a positive way. We’ve absolutely loved his play style, his [competitiveness]. And he was genuinely carving out a significant role for himself.”
That last point matters. Adams signed with the Vikings shortly before training camp, arriving without much certainty about his role. Listed initially as a linebacker and wearing No. 54, the former All-Pro soon changed to No. 32 and began receiving work at safety. His usage resembled the type of positionless role that has become familiar in Brian Flores’ defense.
Through only a few weeks, Adams had already made an impression on teammates and coaches. O’Connell said Adams had been “totally all in” on the process and was earning opportunities daily.
“He was doing that just by totally being all in on the process and a part of Flo’s defense,” O’Connell said. “There’s a lot of guys in there that are crushed for him.”
Adams played 11 snaps against the Giants before the injury. That sample was small, but it offered a glimpse at what Minnesota had been building. He lined up around the line of scrimmage on some plays, then dropped into coverage on others. Flores had another versatile piece, a player with the experience to play multiple spots and the physicality to bring pressure or defend the run.
The Vikings had reason to be intrigued. Adams was once one of the NFL’s defining defensive playmakers. The sixth overall pick in the 2017 draft made two Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors with the Jets in 2019. His aggressive style made him one of the league’s most productive blitzing defensive backs, and he appeared to be embracing the chance to revive that part of his game in Minnesota.
But injuries have repeatedly interrupted his career. Adams missed major time in five separate seasons, including a torn quad suffered in 2022. The latest setback is particularly difficult because it came just as he was establishing himself in a new place.
Safety Joshua Metellus explained after the game that Adams had addressed the defense earlier in the week, sharing the ups and downs of his football journey. Metellus said the message included the mental toll of injuries, the gratitude required to keep going and Adams’ appreciation for the chance in Minnesota.
“This game takes a lot from you, and it doesn’t really give too much,” Metellus said. “He’s given constant, relentless effort to play the game he loves. To fall short year in and year out, I think it’s definitely been tough. His football journey hasn’t given him what he’s wanted. But that’s the name of the game.”
That helps explain the reaction on the field. Adams had been with the team for only a short time, but his personality and intensity had become evident. O’Connell said he remembered meeting Adams during his visit and being struck by the veteran’s energy and desire to become a Viking.
“He wasn’t taking that for granted and expecting anything,” O’Connell said. “He was earning everything, and by the day he was getting more and more and more.”
Minnesota now has to wait for the medical update. The Vikings still have Joshua Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward and rookie Jakobe Thomas at safety, while Flores has never lacked creativity in finding answers. Harrison Smith could also be on the receiving end of the bat signal sooner rather than later.
The first preseason game was supposed to be another small step toward defining Adams’ role. Instead, it may have led him to another extensive stint on the sidelines.
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