For the first time in his career, Jamal Adams participated in an NFL playoff game when the Seattle Seahawks hosted the Los Angeles Rams on the NFL Super Wild Card Weekend. But it didn’t end as he expected, with the Rams coming out with a 30-20 victory at Lumen Field and despite a mountain of uncertainty in the quarterback. Reserve John Wolford started, but a shoulder from Adams to Wolford’s head took the 25-year-old out of the game earlier – resulting in a trip to the hospital for further evaluation – leading Jared Goff to take over and win, despite to play with a fractured thumb.
It turns out that Adams himself was playing with an injury, and several of them, which are supposed to require surgery to correct. Safety All-Pro is said to have touched a torn labrum on his left shoulder and broken fingers on his left hand, along with a problem in his right shoulder that will also require a procedure in this off-season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The timetable for his recovery is undetermined.
It was the Seahawks defense that kept the Rams in check for most of the game on Saturday, while Russell Wilson and the attack were finally forced to submit, leading to a scorched defense that was exploited by running back Cam Akers and a late game Goff’s touchdown. Adams did not contribute much through tackles, registering only two combined tackles on the day, but he had three major pass splits that also helped his countrymen. He will enter the off-season with a lot to discuss with the Seahawks, however, especially considering his latest round of injuries and add to the fact that he has been dealing with durability issues at various points during the 2020 season – ultimately losing a record of four career games.
Having acquired him from the New York Jets through a highly successful trade that included Seattle giving up two choices in the first round, Adams is under contract until 2021 by virtue of his fifth year option, but must reach the free agency unrestricted in 2022. The Seahawks would like to assure you of a long-term deal as soon as possible, and Adams made it clear in July that his plan is to “retire” in Seattle, although that also included contract negotiations until further notice. His series of injuries this season will undoubtedly become a point of discussion going forward, even if it is simply to reduce the asking price.
But while this is being resolved, assuming the topic of an extension is addressed in 2021, Adams must now focus on taking care of himself back to full health with the hope of being available for Seahawks’ offseason programs – his first playoff period ending after just one game.