Reflecting on his first snap with the Lions, which ended in Za'Darius Smith sacking Jordan Love, Jamal Adams said it was "huge to start off the season -- not the season -- but to start off the game like that." His slip can be forgiven. After joining a new team following a month or so at home, it really did feel like Week 1 for Adams, "like I restarted everything again." He's even wearing a number other than 33 for the first time since he put on pads.
"But hey, this is like a new chapter in my life, and I’m forever grateful for it," Adams said Thursday. "Went to Tennessee, it didn’t work out, asked for my release, went home, trained, worked my tail off and a couple weeks later I got the call, man. And no better organization than this."
The Lions lead the NFC at 12-1, and Adams played a small role in their 11th straight win last Thursday against the Packers. He was on the field for eight snaps four days after arriving in Detroit. The former All-Pro safety is here to help, "wherever they ask me to play," he said, "whatever they ask me to do." Like almost every other player on the roster, his aim is to win his first Super Bowl. His baptism in Aaron Glenn's defense was fitting, "one of those blitz calls" out of the slot.
"I didn’t think it was going to be the first play of the game," Adams laughed. "Honestly, I should have kept (my rush) up higher just to force it a little bit more, but I’m glad Za’Darius made a play."
Adams, 29, is likely to play more in the weeks ahead as the Lions fit him into their scheme. He's not a safety in a defense with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. He's more like a smaller version of Derrick Barnes, an overhang pass rusher who can drop into coverage, and come down against the run. As Adams explained his role, "the big nickel, coming in and playing that nickel position and doing my thing."
The Lions could turn to him again Sunday in their attempt to contain Josh Allen. Adams remains on the practice squad but figures to be active against the Bills, especially with linebacker Trevor Nowaske out with a concussion.
As he chatted in the locker room Thursday, Adams thought for a moment that he was standing in front of a teammate's stall. He's still catching his bearings in a new building. He's even confused when he sees someone else's number on his jersey in film. Adams has No. 33 tattooed on his back. It's the number his dad wore as a running back with the Giants and Patriots, and the number Adams wore from the moment he started playing football at the age of three.
Now he's No. 25, because No. 33 belongs to rookie running back Sione Vaki -- and because the only other available numbers in Detroit were clunkers like 41 and 38.
"I’m getting used to it sadly," Adams said. "People will be like, 'What up 2-5!' or, 'Let’s go, 2-5!' and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Oh, they talking about me!’ It’s cool, man. At the end of the day, it is just a number. I’m just more so grateful to be on the field with these guys and have an opportunity."
"It’s a special group, obviously, and the record speaks for itself, but it’s even better people in the organization," he said. "I'm fortunate enough to be a part of it."
During his time with the Seahawks, Adams grew tight with former Lions safety Quandre Diggs. When they were both released last offseason in cap-saving moves by Seattle, they wound up together on the Titans. Diggs, to this day, speaks highly of his time in Detroit, even if his tenure with the Lions ended bitterly under Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn. After Adams signed with Detroit earlier this month, Diggs was one of his first calls.
"I reached out to him like, 'Man, I’m going to the Lions!' He thought it was a hell of an experience, and a hell of an opportunity for me, and said there’s nothing but great people around here," Adams said. "And I was like, 'Man, I wish you could experience it with me.' He was The Guy here, you know what I mean? He grew up here, he was drafted here and he deserves to be around a winning culture, for sure. But he’s definitely excited for me, man."
The Lions' culture is real. They used 21 defensive players against the Packers to compensate for a wave of injuries, eight of whom weren't even on the team at the start of the season, and managed to hold Green Bay under 300 yards of offense. Their talent is real, too. Once one of the top play-making safeties in the game, Adams shook his head when asked about Joseph and Branch and said, "Man, these cats are special in their own way."
"Just being around them for the last week and a half, you can tell they’re smart, detailed and they love ball, man. And they fly around and make plays, whether that’s Kerby getting picks or BB getting picks or big hits. They’re the best duo in the league," Adams said. "And I always try make sure to remind them that, because other people do see it. They should always keep their confidence high, man, because they’re hell of players."
In fact, the way Branch can wreak havoc in the box is reminiscent of a young Adams. Asked if sees any of himself in the 23-year-old, Adams laughed and said, "I ain't gonna try to give myself credit. He's himself." Then he added, "He does have a lot of great instincts in the box and in the backend, he can cover, he can do it all, man. Just to see him out there moving, it definitely reminds me a little bit of when I was younger."
"But I told him when I got here, like, 'Man, I’m a big fan,'" Adams said. "I love watching those guys go to work."
Diggs always spoke highly of the fanbase during his five seasons with the Lions. He knew how badly the city wanted to win. After a game against his former team in 2021, Diggs told then-rookie Penei Sewell, "Keep balling, boy. Embrace the city, they're gonna love you. I promise you. I love that place." Adams is learning the same thing. After less than two weeks in town, "my favorite thing about the city is the fanbase and the culture here," he said.
"Like, everybody has that hard-nosed worker’s mentality, just get the job done, you know what I’m saying? Everybody wants to win," Adams said. "You can respect that coming from the outside, coming to Detroit for the first time."
Adams played on a couple playoff teams in Seattle, and in front of some of the loudest fans in the NFL. The 12th Man at Lumen Field creates the same edge for the Seahawks that Ford Field does for the Lions. To be re-immersed in that sort of environment last Thursday night, "it felt amazing," Adams said.
"It felt like being back around winning football again," he said. "Like, playoff atmosphere. The energy just felt like, I’m supposed to be here, man. I’m supposed to be a part of this."