Jamal Adams will miss the entire 2026 season after sustaining a right knee injury during the Minnesota Vikings' preseason game against the New York Giants on Saturday, according to multiple reports. The injury occurred early in the second quarter as Adams was covering a pass.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell described the injury as "not good" following the game. Adams was carted to the locker room after the incident.
Adams, who joined the Vikings shortly before training camp, had been working at both safety and linebacker and expressed a willingness to play any position. O'Connell noted Adams' passion and the positive impact he had made in a short time with the team, stating, "You're just crushed for him, the role he was kind of paving for himself, and then just having a personality, experience, toughness that he brought in such a short amount of time. We're going to miss him."
This injury marks the latest setback in Adams' career. He played in only five games last season split between the Raiders and Titans and appeared in a combined 10 games over the two seasons prior with the Seattle Seahawks. His bid for a strong return to the NFL will now be postponed, and the Vikings' defense will need to adjust to his absence.