Sending up the bat signal for Harry?

Yah, not the guy he used to be - but still might be very useful over 18 games...

Paging Harrison Smith?

If Harrison Smith is anywhere near the fence on possibly playing a 15th season, one has to think the apparently serious injury to Jamal Adams will be nudging Harry toward coming back.

Adams was shifting from linebacker back to safety to give the Vikings a veteran presence they’ve lost without Smith. Now, they either have to go looking for another replacement or start politely pushing No. 22 a little harder to come back.

Adams’ injury is a shame. But I do like that teams, for whatever reason, are starting to treat preseason games as important parts of getting ready for a season. We’re seeing more and more starters playing. And that’s a good thing.

Strib

Whole time I've thought he'd be back. Events of today only changed the timeline, IMO.

Oddly what clinched it for me was this game.

JustInTime wrote:

https://twitter.com/eric_j_thompson/status/2088687883234259418

Thanks ~ I was trying to find something like that, but couldn't.

Cricket wrote:

Thanks ~ I was trying to find something like that, but couldn't.

You’re finding everything else! Appreciate all the posts you’ve been making available.

https://bringmethesports.com/after-losing-jamal-adams-to-a-knee-injury-what-are-the-vikings-options-at-safety

After losing Jamal Adams to a knee injury, what are the Vikings’ options at safety?

There’s a certain 37-year-old veteran out there who could help if he wants to play one more season.

Injuries are the worst part of football. It’s especially brutal to see a significant injury in the preseason, when a player’s season can end before it really even began. It’s even more devastating when it’s a player who has dealt with and overcome getting hurt in the past.

Unfortunately, that’s what happened on Saturday, when veteran safety Jamal Adams suffered a non-contact right knee injury in the second quarter of the Vikings’ preseason opener against the Giants. The initial exam “does not look good” for Adams, Kevin O’Connell said postgame. The team won’t know the exact specifics until they get the imaging results back, but the assumption is that Adams won’t be playing any more football in 2026.

“It just kills you,” O’Connell said. “It absolutely guts you.”

The Vikings had quickly become enamored with Adams in the three weeks since they signed him in late July. They loved the energy and experience he brought to the locker room and practice field. With his versatility and playmaking abilities, he was spending a lot of time with the Vikings’ first-team defense and was seemingly set to take on a sizable role in the team’s safety rotation under Brian Flores.

Adams, whose career was derailed by a severe quad injury in 2022, had battled back to feeling like himself and had found a great fit in Minnesota. Now he’ll be sidelined again — and he may have a decision to make about the future of his NFL career.

As tough as this news is to swallow, the Vikings have no choice but to move forward, embrace Adams as an organization, and try to “honor him in the way we play,” as Josh Metellus said after the game.

From a football perspective, the Vikings are now down a key player in their safety room. Let’s go over their options at that position heading into the regular season.

The Harrison Smith situation

The Vikings still haven’t received a decision from Harrison Smith, who might be retiring but hasn’t officially ruled out the possibility of returning for a 15th season with Minnesota. Players and coaches were already hoping to see Smith come back. Now there’s even more incentive for the Vikings to really pitch the Hitman on running it back one more time.

If Smith was already leaning towards calling it career, Adams’ injury probably won’t change his mind. But if the 37-year-old is truly on the fence, it might just be possible that his decision could be influenced by the Vikings needing him a bit more than they did yesterday.

Other FAs

If the Vikings feel like Smith isn’t coming back — or if they don’t think they can wait on his decision — they could look to bring in a different free agent with the roster spot that will be created when Adams goes on IR.

Former 49ers and Texans safety Jimmie Ward is out there, but he may not be an option because of recent injuries and legal trouble.

The best external option might be former Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson, who has started 62 of a possible 68 games for Dallas over the last four seasons. The 31-year-old is a very solid, well-rounded player whose blitzing ability (13 career sacks) would make him a logical fit as an Adams replacement.

Former Rams and Bills safety Taylor Rapp recently worked out for the Broncos. Jordan Poyer, Jabrill Peppers, and Mike Edwards are among the other names on the market.

Internal options

The Vikings don’t necessarily have to sign another safety. With less than a month until the regular season begins, they could simply lean on the guys they already have in the building. Here’s an estimation of what the depth chart looks like without Adams:

• Josh Metellus

• Theo Jackson

• Jay Ward

• Jakobe Thomas

• Jacob Thomas

• Tavierre Thomas

• Kahlef Hailassie

Metellus is locked into his unique, do-everything role. Jackson is a solid complement as more of a traditional safety who plays deeper. Ward is a contract year breakout candidate who absolutely leveled Jaxson Dart on a safety blitz on Saturday.

Jakobe Thomas has a lot of upside as a third-round rookie, but he’s been sidelined due to back stiffness over the past week or so. It’s been undrafted rookie Jacob Thomas who has stood out in training camp, and he continued his strong month with an interception in the second half against the Giants. The James Madison product is making a push for a spot on the 53-man roster.

BALLHAWKIN! @jacobthomassb22

📺: #MINvsNYG @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/O3mmVlu5eb

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 15, 2026

If Jakobe can get healthy and prove to the Vikings that he’s ready to play as a rookie, that would lessen the need to go get an Adams replacement in free agency. There’s a third Thomas, Tavierre, who is a veteran special teams ace. Hailassie is a practice squad guy facing an uphill climb to make the team.

The question the Vikings have to ask themselves is whether or not those seven players are enough.

Adams is more of a hybrid safety like Metellus, so I am not sure this changes things in terms of personnel needs as we still needed more pure safeties. Looks like the Jakobe Thomas has been banged up, but the other Thomas has been drawing more praise and sure looked good today.

Big Smith fan, but he has been on the decline and I can't imagine him coming into camp this late is going to help. I think Taylor Rapp would be someone worth bringing in.

If Harry is enjoying himself as much as some teammates have said, just stay away Hitman. Your quality of life in 15 years will thank you.

StickierBuns wrote:

If Harry is enjoying himself as much as some teammates have said, just stay away Hitman. Your quality of life in 15 years will thank you.

I agree, he doesn't owe us anything. His career speaks for himself, and he stayed loyal to the Vikings. Harry needs to do what is best for him at this point in his life.

StickierBuns wrote:

If Harry is enjoying himself as much as some teammates have said, just stay away Hitman. Your quality of life in 15 years will thank you.

Yeah I think that's the smart move. It's been painfully apparent the last few years he can't hit or tackle the way he used to and he actively avoids contact. I get that Flores loves having his brain/experience on the field but it's hard to play safety with that sort of limitation. 37 is ancient in NFL years. Works if you're a kicker but not so great if you're supposed to lay wood on guys.

comet52 wrote:

Works if you're a kicker but not so great if you're supposed to lay wood on guys.

purplefaithful wrote:

"Are you threatening me?!?"