KEY POINTS
Jamal Adams left Minnesota’s preseason opener after 11 defensive snaps and was taken to the locker room on a cart.
The nature and severity of Adams’ injury had not been disclosed in the provided reports.
Adams is entering his first season with the Vikings after signing a one year contract shortly before training camp.
Adams left the Vikings’ preseason opener during the second quarter after visiting the sideline medical tent. He was subsequently taken to the locker room on a cart, with the exact nature of the injury not immediately known.
The incident occurred during a New York Giants scoring drive. Adams’ final recorded play came in pass coverage on quarterback Jaxson Dart’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Fields, which put the Giants on the scoreboard with 13 minutes, 32 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Adams had been used in multiple roles during Minnesota’s training camp. The Vikings had worked him at both safety and linebacker, continuing the positional flexibility that has characterized his recent career.
The Vikings signed the 30-year-old Adams to a one-year contract shortly before the start of training camp. He entered Minnesota after spending the previous season with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he appeared in all 17 games.
Adams originally entered the NFL as the New York Jets’ first-round selection at safety in 2017. He has earned three Pro Bowl selections during his career, but injuries limited him to nine or fewer games in each of the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Last season, Adams transitioned to linebacker with the Raiders. Minnesota has since evaluated him at both linebacker and safety as it determines how best to use him defensively.
Preseason games provide teams with an opportunity to evaluate players and establish roles before the regular season. For Minnesota, Adams’ early exit removes an experienced defender from the remainder of the game while the team awaits more information about his condition.
The provided reports do not disclose a diagnosis, timetable or expected availability for Adams.
Adams’ injury came during his first preseason appearance for the Vikings. He had logged 11 defensive snaps before leaving the field, making the play involving the Giants’ touchdown his final action of the outing.
The next significant update will depend on further information about Adams’ condition. At the time covered by the provided reports, no specific diagnosis or recovery timeline had been announced.
Sources
ESPN report on Jamal Adams’ preseason debut and exit.
Report on Adams being carted off during the Vikings’ preseason opener against the Giants.
