Jamal Adams Reveals Stern Message He Got From Pete Carroll Upon Raiders Signing

Jamal Adams was once one of the most well-regarded defenders in the NFL, but he has become a bit of an afterthought in recent years. He's been dealing with injuries and hasn't been able to land a team consistently.

After sitting in free agency for months, the Las Vegas Raiders signed him to a one-year deal, reuniting him with head coach Pete Carroll. However, upon his arrival, Carroll made it clear that Adams would have to make a big change.

Carroll Was Clear to Adams That He'd Be Playing LB

Reporters quickly noticed at practice that Adams was playing with the linebackers. While he has lined up at linebacker at times in his career, he's always been a full-time defensive back.

Upon his arrival, Carroll told him that he wouldn't be in the secondary this year.

“He told me straight up that you are gonna be in the LB room, so get over it," Adams said of Carroll on Saturday. "I’m like ‘Alright, (expletive) let’s do it.’”

Switch to LB Could Be What Adams Needed

Adams was an All-Pro as a defensive back, but injuries have led to him losing a couple of steps. It's difficult for him to still be effective in pass defense.

As a linebacker, Adams can focus more on rushing the passer and stopping the run game. In the first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, he played really well, having three tackles. At first, it seemed like he could have an uphill battle to make the roster, but now it looks like he could compete for a starting spot.

Adams Finally Healthy

Adams hasn't played more than 12 games in a season since 2019. He has dealt with a lot of injuries throughout his career and only played in five games last season.

He says that he's finally feeling healthy, which could lead to him getting back to being an impact player. If that's the case, he would be a serious steal for the Raiders' defense.