Jamal Adams’ first Vikings preseason appearance ended in the worst possible way Saturday, and Minnesota is now waiting on a clearer picture after the veteran safety left the game with a non-contact injury.
The moment came in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium, where Adams went down without being touched and had to be carted off the field. It was the kind of scene that instantly changes the mood of a preseason opener. What was supposed to be Minnesota’s first look at its 2026 exhibition roster instead turned into a worrying watch for everyone tracking Adams’ health.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t offer much comfort after halftime. He said the Vikings are "gonna miss" Adams and that everyone is "just crushed for him."
That’s about as telling as it gets this early. No official diagnosis has been announced yet, but the tone of O’Connell’s update suggests the Vikings aren’t expecting good news. For now, Adams’ status is very much up in the air, and the possibility that he could miss significant time is very real.
The injury also fits an unfortunate pattern in Adams’ career. He has only played every regular-season game in 2016, 2017 and 2025, and he’s been limited to 12 or fewer games in six of his nine seasons.
From 2022 through 2024, he appeared in just 15 total games. His injury history has included issues with his groin, ankle, head, labrum and quad, according to Draft Sharks.
It’s still too soon to know whether this latest problem is tied to any of those previous injuries. But after what happened Saturday, last season’s fully healthy run with the Raiders is starting to look more like the exception than the rule.
Minnesota now has to adjust on the fly. Adams was listed as Jay Ward’s primary backup at safety on the unofficial depth chart earlier this week, so his absence immediately changes the rotation. That could open more preseason snaps for Jakobe Thomas and Jacob Thomas.
The Vikings had also been exploring Adams as both a safety and a linebacker, which means this injury could affect more than one part of the defense. It may create an opening for someone like Ivan Pace Jr. to make a stronger case as the preseason moves along.
There’s also the possibility that Minnesota looks outside the building. A few free-agent defenders are still available if the Vikings want extra camp bodies or a player who can contribute more meaningfully. For now, though, O’Connell, Brian Flores and the rest of the staff may prefer to lean on the options they already have until they’re forced to do otherwise.
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