Seahawks Lose Star Safety Before Facing Steelers

In a series of roster moves before their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks announced that they’ve placed safety Jamal Adams and wide receiver Dee Eskridge on injured reserve. Adams has been placed on injured reserve after missing the last two games with a knee injury. Eskridge is dealing with injured ribs. The Steelers will avoid both.

Adams’ has had a tumultuous tenure with the Seahawks since landing in Seattle via a trade from the New York Jets in 2020, as he’s been plagued with injuries. In 2021, Adams signed a four-year extension with the Seahawks valued at $72 million, with a $20 million signing bonus and $38 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid safety in the NFL at that time. Things have gone downhill since then, as Adams suffered a torn labrum that placed him on injured reserve on December 10, 2021. In Week of the 2022 season, he suffered a torn quad tendon in the second quarter that ended his season.

Adams missed the first three games of the year while making his way back from the torn quad that ended his 2022 season. Adams started just nine games this year, and when he did play, he received criticism from head coach Pete Carroll.

Given Adams’ high salary and lack of availability, it’s pretty much certain that Seattle will part ways with him this offseason. Adams just hasn’t been durable — playing 34 games and missing 29 because of injuries in his four seasons in Seattle.  The Jets traded Adams to Seattle for two first-round picks prior to the 2020 season.

Adams recorded a single-season record for sacks by a defensive back with 9.5 in 2020. He was named second-team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl that year. Since then, however, Adams hasn’t recorded a single sack.

Adams said upon his return this season that he briefly but legitimately considered retirement after his quad tendon injury. After a separate injury, Seattle is shutting Adams down for the rest of the regular season and it appears that his time is coming to an end with the Seahawks.

“He did try to get out there and go,” Carroll said Friday. “We’re listing him as out. He’s not going to be able to make it back this week. He’s doing everything he can. It’s just really, really frustrating that he can’t quite get over the hump. We declared it already just talking about it. He feels like this is the right thing for this week.”