Jamal Adams' tenure with the Minnesota Vikings has been cut short before it could truly begin due to a torn right quadriceps tendon, which has placed the veteran safety/linebacker on injured reserve for the season. The injury occurred during the Vikings' 13-10 preseason victory against the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Medical imaging confirmed the severity of the injury sustained during a non-contact play early in the second quarter on Saturday. Adams was covering wide receiver Calvin Austin III when he fell to the turf.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell stated that Adams will undergo a procedure to repair the tendon. O'Connell emphasized Adams' value to the team beyond his on-field contributions, noting his importance in mentoring younger players and providing energy. "He's going to be with us all season long," O'Connell said Monday. "You guys will see him around, see him out here, see him around the building because, you know, he's a Minnesota Viking now and we want to make sure that he knows how important he'll be to our players and team."
Adams, who turns 31 in October, signed with the Vikings in late July. Last season, he appeared in 17 games, with four starts, for the Las Vegas Raiders. Prior to that, he spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, where he suffered a torn left quadriceps tendon in Week 1 of the 2022 season, forcing him to miss the remainder of that year.
Originally a first-round pick by the New York Jets in 2017, Adams earned three Pro Bowl selections and a first-team All-Pro nod during his three seasons with the team as a safety. He also played for the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions during the 2024 campaign.
In a corresponding move, the Vikings signed undrafted rookie cornerback Bryce Phillips, who was recently waived by the Kansas City Chiefs.