Vikings’ Adams ruled out for 2026 season following knee injury
Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell confirms poor initial testing for Adams, who was signed from Seattle and recently switched positions.
Minnesota Vikings veteran defender Jamal Adams will miss the entire 2026 season due to a right knee injury sustained during the team’s 13-10 preseason victory over the New York Giants. The NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport reported the season-ending status on Sunday, following initial assessments that suggested a significant setback for the defensive leader.
The injury occurred early in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium when Adams stumbled in pass coverage without contact and fell to the turf. He rolled over and grabbed his right knee before being carted from the field to the locker room. The incident happened while Adams was playing with the second-team defense, despite having received heavy first-team reps in the Vikings’ three-safety packages during training camp.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell described himself as “crushed” by the news and confirmed that early testing did not look promising. While the coaching staff initially sought to wait for definitive imaging scheduled for Sunday before making a final projection, the outcome has now been confirmed as a season-ending absence. O’Connell stated that the team would miss Adams’ contributions moving forward.
Adams, 30, was signed by the Vikings on the eve of training camp, a move facilitated by his prior connection with general manager Nolan Teasley from their time together with the Seattle Seahawks. Originally drafted as a safety by the New York Jets in 2017, Adams transitioned to linebacker with the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Upon arriving in Minnesota, he initially worked at linebacker before the Vikings switched him to safety, changing his jersey number from 54 to 32.
The injury adds to a history of physical setbacks for Adams throughout the second half of his career. He played only one game in 2022, nine in 2023, and five in 2024. He managed to play all 17 games as a part-time player for the Raiders last season, but the current knee issue will sideline him for the duration of the 2026 campaign.
