Jamal Adams’ chance at reviving his career was over before it started in Minnesota.
The Vikings placed the veteran safety/linebacker on season-ending injured reserve after medical imaging revealed a torn right quadriceps tendon sustained during Minnesota’s 13-10 preseason victory against the Giants at MetLife Stadium on Saturday.
The Vikings signed cornerback Bryce Phillips, an undrafted rookie out of San Diego State, Monday after he was recently waived by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Vikings linebacker Jamal Adams (32) is taken off the field on a cart after being injured during the first half of the Giants and Minnesota Vikings pre-season game in East Rutherford, NJ, on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said Adams will have a procedure to repair his quad and emphasized the importance of having him around.
“He’ll have that procedure to have that fixed and then he’s going to be with us all season long,” Vikings head coach O’Connell said Monday while discussing Adams’ injury and speculation around it.
“I’ve talked a lot, both to him and his family about just his impact on this organization, his ability to help young players, his ability to be a real beacon of energy.
“And once, obviously, he’s going to be focused on getting healthy and getting the initial early stages of his rehab going. But we’re going to have him with us. 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.”
O’Connell previously said early medical testing on Adams was “not good.”
Adams, who turns 31 in October, was carted off the field after a non-contact knee injury early in the second quarter on Saturday.
He was covering Giants wideout Calvin Austin III and ran across the middle of the field before falling to the turf as Jaxson Dart threw a touchdown to Malachi Fields.
Adams signed with the Vikings in late July after appearing in 17 games, with four starts, for the Raiders last year.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jamal Adams hydrates during the team’s NFL football training camp on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Eagan, Minn. AP Photo/Abbie Parr
A 2017 first-round pick by the Jets, Adams made three Pro Bowls and earned a first-team All-Pro nod across three seasons at the safety position with the team.
He dealt with injuries after the Jets dealt him to Seahawks, with whom he spent four years seasons.
Adams tore his left quad while playing for the Seahawks in Week 1 of the 2022 season and missed the remainder of the year.
He split the 2024 campaign between the Titans and the Lions.
