Jamal Adams wears walking boot after Jets' loss to Bengals; severity of injury not yet known
Bengals running back Joe Mixon runs the ball against Jets outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins and strong safety Jamal Adams during the first half on Sunday in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Frank Victores
CINCINNATI — Jamal Adams stood in front of his locker with his left foot in a walking boot and his eyes red and teary.
He looked like someone who was hurting not just from the loss but from potentially bad news.
No one loves to play football more than the Jets safety, but Adams sounded unsure about his immediate future after getting hurt on the first series of the Jets’ 22-6 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Adams’ emotion was raw and unexpected. He spoke in a somber tone and said, “I don’t know” when he was asked if he would have an MRI and if he would miss time. When he was asked what it was, he said, “Still trying to figure those things out.”
All Adams could say was that he suffered the foot injury early in the game and that he was in great pain throughout.
He played through the pain, but he didn’t affect the game the way he usually does, finishing with one combined tackle. He likely will undergo tests Monday.
“I’m more upset at the fact that I feel like I let the team down,” Adams said. “Obviously, a freak accident happened. I don’t really know. I couldn’t perform as myself.
“I’m really upset that we fell short. That’s the ultimate goal. It’s not about me. It’s about this team. We didn’t play well enough to get the win.”
The Jets have been leveled by injuries all season on both sides of the ball, but Adams has been a mainstay for the defense.
He was a dominant force in the previous three games, totaling 20 tackles (including three for a loss), 5 1⁄2 sacks and two forced fumbles.
“I couldn’t perform,” Adams said. “I felt like if I just shut it down, I was just letting my teammates down. I couldn’t do that.
“I did what I could. I don’t think I could have affected the game like I wanted to. I held my own. I was in a lot of pain. But I couldn’t let my brothers down.”
Adams, the Jets’ first-round pick in 2017, hasn’t missed a game in his career. No one questions his passion, heart or desire to play.
“I’m more upset that we lost,” he said. “I’ll be all right. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Just adversity. We’ll figure it out.”
