Monday was the first time in a Detroit Lions uniform for freshly signed veteran Jamal Adams. After joining the team’s practice squad over the weekend, Adams did what many suspected he would do in Detroit’s banged-up defense.
He worked out with the linebacking corps and not the secondary, at least in the portion of practice open to the media on Monday.
Adams has been a safety, or at least designated as a safety, for his entire eight-year NFL career. The 6-foot-1, 213-pounder has dabbled more than a little at playing as a box safety or de facto linebacker, however. With the Titans in 2023, Adams played the “Edge safety” role popularized by Jabrill Peppers and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, much more than he ever played in coverage behind the linebackers.
In Detroit, the Lions had Ifeatu Melifonwu playing that role quite well down the stretch of 2023. Melifonwu has been out all season with multiple injuries, and Aaron Glenn’s defense hasn’t really used the role in his absence. Adams’s experience and seek-and-destroy attitude offer the chance to bring that role back and give the Lions some fresh options on defense. The 3-time Pro Bowler (2018-2020) even played a little in that role against Green Bay earlier this season with Tennessee.
It remains to be seen if Adams will play on Thursday night against the NFC North rival Packers. He would need to be elevated from the practice squad in order to play.