Seahawks Ready to Unleash Jamal Adams vs. Giants: 'No Restrictions!'
RENTON, Wash. - Now more than a year removed from the last time he suited up for an NFL game, Seattle Seahawks star safety Jamal Adams has been engaged in a difficult exercise of patience waiting for his opportunity to return to the gridiron.
Known for his competitive fire and animated personality, the past several months couldn't have been easy for Adams, who hasn't been rushed back into action from a torn quad tendon that cost him the majority of the 2022 season. Though he was activated from the PUP list in late August, the Seahawks have exercised caution every step of the way, waiting several weeks to progress him from participating in walkthroughs to being a full participant in practice.
Finally, after missing Seattle's first three regular season games, Adams will get to don his No. 33 uniform once again on Monday against the New York Giants in a return trip to Metlife Stadium. While his former team won't be on the other sideline, it will mark the first time playing in the Meadowlands since the Jets traded him prior to the start of the 2020 season, capping off his comeback with a homecoming of sorts that will make his return all the more exciting.
“Judging from the practices that he’s had in the past couple of weeks, he’ll be ready to go," Carroll told reporters Monday. "We just have to make it through the week and make sure that everything goes right. There will be no restrictions at all.”
It's been a long time coming for Adams, who has been ravaged by injuries throughout his tenure with the Seahawks. First, he missed four games in 2020 due to a groin injury, though he still set an NFL record for defensive backs with 9.5 sacks and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors. The following season, he missed the final five games after tearing the labrum in his left shoulder for the second time in a calendar year. He also underwent a procedure to fuse two middle fingers on his left hand.
Happy to have two fully functional arms again for the first time in two years, Adams unfortunately didn't stay healthy for long. After making a hit on former teammate Russell Wilson on a blitz in Seattle's season-opening win over Denver last September, he limped off the field and quickly was carted to the locker room, seeing his season come to an abrupt end after just 15 snaps.
What will a healthy Adams bring back to the Seahawks defensively? From Carroll's perspective, his aggressiveness, hitting ability, and energy will all be welcome additions for a unit that currently ranks 29th in yards and points allowed per game through three games and could use some extra juice.
“He’s a unique player and he’s got a unique way about him," Carroll said. "His aggressiveness and attacks and style. He generates action. Really good in running and hitting, the kinds of basic fundamentals of the game, but he also brings a lot of energy and juice about him too, and confidence. He’s just got a lot of energy for it. I’m really excited for him."
When he has been available, Adams has flashed as the game wrecker the Seahawks thought they were bringing into the fold when they dealt two first-round picks and a third-round pick to the Jets in August 2020. On his way to a record-breaking season in the sacks department, per Pro Football Focus, he led all safeties with 34 quarterback pressures while also registering 76 combined tackles and 11 tackles for loss.
Back in action for the first time since September 2022, the Seahawks hope Jamal Adams rounds quickly back into form to provide a spark for a defense ranking 29th in scoring thus far.
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While his pass rushing production evaporated in 2021 without any sacks, scheme and usage played into that regression, as he only blitzed 51 times compared to 104 times in the season prior. Even with far fewer chances, he still registered seven pressures and a 13.7 percent pressure rate while adding a pair of interceptions before suffering his season-ending shoulder injury.
Last year, new defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt appeared to be making a conscious effort to better maximize Adams' unique skill set using him as a pseudo-linebacker in nickel and dime packages. Before his latest injury, early results looked promising as the veteran safety racked up three tackles, a pass defensed, and a quarterback pressure in limited snaps flying all over the field.
Following the addition of safety Julian Love, who will be facing his former team for the first time on Sunday, Seattle will likely plan to deploy Adams in a similar fashion playing alongside Quandre Diggs and Love in three-safety sets. Back fully healthy and set to play extensive snaps in the box, the physical 213-pound defender should provide another weapon in the pass rushing game while also further bolstering an improved run defense that has given up just 2.9 yards per carry so far this year.
Understanding how badly Adams has wanted to get back on the field and the significance his presence holds for the Seahawks on defense when healthy, Carroll has tried to maintain a balanced approach with the energetic star defender leading up to his anticipated return this weekend with the aim of keeping him "even keeled" and making sure the hype doesn't negatively impact his performance.
“Absolutely, just like any of us would. [He’s] so excited," Carroll said when asked if he needed to rein in Adams before Sunday's return. "Sometimes you can not be chilled and not play like you’re capable. We have to make sure. It’s a good thing.”
Returning to the mix after a grueling rehab process, Adams will be re-joining a defense with plenty of new faces who have arrived since his injury last September, including Love and rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon in the defensive backfield. After such an extended absence, it may take time for him to get his feet back underneath him and develop on-field rapport with his new counterparts.
But given Adams natural skills and football instincts coupled with the fact he has been active in meetings since mandatory minicamp, Carroll isn't at all concerned about chemistry being a problem. In fact, with familiar veterans such as Diggs and Bobby Wagner still playing lead roles, he expects the transition to be a seamless once as the dynamic playmaker works his way back into the lineup and steps up as a valuable leader for a young secondary in his own right.
“They’ve been around him. He’s been involved and around us for some time now," Carroll said. "I’ve hoped and urged him to be outward, speak, and speak his piece, and he’s done a good job of that. He already has his presence. He’s been in the meeting room every day for months. They’re very connected, they’ll be fine."
