Vikings Place 30-Year-Old Jamal Adams on Season-Ending IR After Right Quad Tear

Q: After losing two key players for the season, how will the 49ers patch their roster before the real games begin?

The 49ers are likely to patch the losses internally at first, while leaning on a couple of recent veteran additions to stabilize the defensive front and tight end room before Week 1. On the defensive line, San Francisco has already moved to add experience by signing Kevin Givens to a one-year deal and bringing in veteran edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo, who immediately gives them another proven pass-rush option behind Nick Bosa. Those moves matter more after Jaylen Harrell’s season-ending ACL tear. The club can also elevate younger depth such as Romello Height, Sam Okuayinonu and K.J. Henry in preseason competition, but the immediate insurance is clearly coming from Givens and Okoronkwo. At tight end, the loss of Jaren Kanak further thins a group that was already under stress with George Kittle still on the active/PUP list. San Francisco has responded by adding veteran Josiah Deguara, a versatile blocker who can line up inline, in the slot or in the backfield. That makes him a practical short-term fit alongside Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell and Brayden Willis while the team waits on Kittle’s return. The broader picture is that the 49ers do not appear poised for a splash move yet. Reporting around the team indicates John Lynch and the coaching staff want to evaluate their younger backups through the rest of camp and preseason before spending major cap space or making a trade. If the in-house options struggle, edge and tight end remain obvious spots for another late veteran signing.

Q: With James Conner sidelined and injuries piling up, who will step up in the Cardinals' backfield before Week 1?

Tyler Allgeier is the clear favorite to carry the Cardinals’ backfield into Week 1 if James Conner is not ready, with Bam Knight and Corey Kiner next in line. That picture has sharpened because Arizona is suddenly thin at running back. Conner is still recovering from last season’s foot injury and has not returned to 11-on-11 work, with coach Mike LaFleur saying there is no timetable yet. Rookie Jeremiyah Love, who flashed with 58 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards in his preseason debut, will miss at least this week with an ankle injury. Trey Benson is also still out with a knee issue, though LaFleur said he is progressing. With those absences, Allgeier has moved to the front of the rotation. The Cardinals have already been leaning on him in preseason action, and reporting around the team describes him as the likely starter while Love sits and Conner and Benson remain limited. He is the most established healthy option and the safest bet for early-down work. Behind him, Knight appears positioned for complementary snaps, while Kiner could get more preseason opportunities to make a case for a depth role. Arizona also signed Tre Stewart for added insurance, but that looks more like a depth move than an immediate answer. If Conner is still sidelined by the opener, Allgeier is the most likely lead back, with Knight and Kiner filling out a short-term committee until the Cardinals get healthier.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 17

Kevin O’Connell said Monday that Jamal Adams tore his right quadriceps, clarifying that the non-contact injury from Saturday’s game against the Giants was not a knee issue.
Minnesota immediately placed the safety-linebacker on season-ending injured reserve, ending his 2026 campaign before it began.
Adams has been through a similar setback before: he tore his left quad in Week 1 of the 2022 season with Seattle and missed the rest of that year.
The latest injury leaves the veteran, who turns 31 in October, facing another lengthy rehab as he weighs whether to continue playing beyond this season.