Minnesota Vikings safety Jamal Adams was carted off the field with an apparent knee injury during the team's preseason opener against the New York Giants on Saturday at MetLife Stadium. The injury occurred in the second quarter during a non-contact play as Adams tracked a wide receiver.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell expressed dismay over the injury during an on-field interview. "You feel his passion every single day," O'Connell said. "Certainly felt it spending a few moments with him before they took him in. You’re just crushed for him, the role he was kind of paving for himself."
Adams had shown flashes of his potential earlier in the game, recording a tackle for a loss in the first quarter. The veteran safety signed with the Vikings in late July. Prior to joining Minnesota, Adams spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks after being a first-round pick by the New York Jets, where he earned three Pro Bowl selections and one First-Team All-Pro nod. He played in 17 games, with four starts, for the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 season. He also had a stint with the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions in 2024.
During training camp, the Vikings utilized Adams at both linebacker and safety. He had previously expressed his versatility, telling reporters after signing with the Vikings, "I can play linebacker, safety, corner, nose tackle, defensive end, kicker. It don’t even matter. Whatever you want me to play, I play."
On the same play that Adams sustained his injury, Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart returned from his own injury scare to throw a touchdown pass that gave the Giants a 7-3 lead.