Jamal Adams: I want to prove I’m still the good guy

Safety Jamal Adams signed with the Titans on Thursday and will the league minimum for veteran players after playing only 10 games in the last two seasons.

Adams tore his quadriceps in his first game of 2022 and missed the remaining 16 games this season, then dealt with a knee injury that limited his availability last year. In an appearance on The Official Titans PodcastAdams called the 2022 injury “humiliating” and said he didn’t feel as good as he did when he took the field last year.

Adams said he is “in a much better place now” mentally and physically and hopes to show he can still be the kind of player he was before missing all this time.

“I’ve always had a grudge against me for a long, long time,” Adams said. “For me, I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong, I’m trying to prove myself right. I’m trying to get back out there and prove myself, that I’m still that guy and I can still play. Whether people believe in me or not, as long as I believe in myself, that’s what matters.

The move to Tennessee reunites Adams with defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, who was his first NFL position coach with the Jets. Adams began building the resume that made him the league’s highest-paid safety with Wilson, and everyone involved hopes their second stint together can be productive as well.