Jamal Adams Carted Off in Vikings Preseason Debut

Jamal Adams was carted off the field during the second quarter of the Vikings' preseason game against the Giants. Adams, a six‑time Pro Bowl linebacker, signed a one‑year, non‑guaranteed contract with Minnesota after announcing the deal on social media. He entered the league as the sixth overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft out of LSU and spent four seasons with the New York Jets, where he earned multiple All‑Pro selections and a four‑year extension in 2021. The Vikings are using training camp to test new defensive alignments for Adams, aiming to reshape their secondary and preserve the trajectory of the team’s second‑round draft pick. His presence could alter the defensive scheme and expectations for the 2026 roster.

Preseason debut ends in injury

Jamal Adams signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Minnesota Vikings after announcing the move on social media. His preseason debut ended abruptly when he was carted off the field during the second quarter of the game against the Giants. The injury occurred early in the contest and forced him to leave the game and be taken to the locker room. Adams had joined the Vikings after agreeing to a contract, as announced on social media. He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was drafted sixth overall in 2017. He spent four years with the New York Jets, where he earned multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. His first appearance with the Vikings was cut short by the injury.

Contract details and career context

Jamal Adams signed a four-year contract with the New York Jets in 2021 after the Jets drafted him sixth overall in 2017. He earned Pro Bowl and All‑Pro honors during his tenure with the Jets, quickly establishing himself as a standout linebacker. The Vikings have now listed him as a linebacker on a one‑year, non‑guaranteed contract, marking a new chapter in his career. Adams played college football at LSU before entering the NFL. His signing follows a preseason game in which he was carted off the field during the second quarter against the Giants. The move comes as the team explores defensive role adjustments for the veteran during training camp.

Coaching experiments and roster implications

Vikings coaches are evaluating multiple defensive roles for Adams during training camp as they determine how to integrate him into the scheme. His addition is being viewed as a potential catalyst for changes in the team's defensive strategy and could influence decisions regarding the second-round draft pick currently on the roster. The experiment comes after Adams was carted off the field during the preseason game against the Giants, an injury that halted his debut early in the second quarter. The Vikings are weighing how his skill set might reshape personnel groupings and play-calling, with the goal of adding versatility to a unit that has lacked a true enforcer in recent seasons.

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