Jamal Adams plays his first NFL game at new position

It feels weird to say a player with the career of Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams has to prove himself during the preseason.

However, the Raiders do need the longtime safety Adams to prove his worth at his new position. Seen as one of the best run-stopping safeties in recent memory, the move allows Adams to play more to his strengths, at least on paper. With the Raiders in need of linebackers stepping up with the departure of Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo in free agency, Adams had the opportunity to re-emerge onto the NFL scene.

His first test came on Thursday in the Raiders’ preseason debut against the Seattle Seahawks.

Adams held his own at his new position in his first game.

In the Raiders’ 23-23 tie against the Seahawks, Adams was one of the best performers for Las Vegas.

“Jamal Adams — who signed last month — looked solid at weak-side linebacker, as he was active around the line of scrimmage. In 14 defensive snaps, Adams had three tackles, including two run stuffs. On third and long in the second quarter, Adams burst up the middle before tackling Seattle running back Damien Martinez,” wrote ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.

Despite the move closer to the line of scrimmage, it is a promising sign to see Adams retain the run-stuffing chops that made him so feared years ago.

Adams has seen his career head on a downward trajectory since being released by the Seahawks in 2023. Last season, Adams played in five games for the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions in the hopes of revitalizing his career. With the Raiders playing him more to his strengths, the 29-year-old Adams has a chance to begin his return to prominence.

If the early returns are anything to go by, the Raiders might be the team that breathes new life into Adams’s NFL career.