Jamal Adams out for season with torn labrum for Seahawks

RENTON -- Seahawks Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams will miss the remainder of the season due to significant injuries to his shoulder that will require surgery.

Adams was injured late in the first half of Sunday's 30-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Adams came in to help clean up on a tackle of 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings with just under four minutes left in the second quarter. He came out of the pile immediately holding his left arm and would retreat to the locker room before the end of the half.

"Unfortunately he got hit just the wrong way," Carroll said. "He's going to have to get fixed up. ... He's really rocked by it, of course. We're all pulling for him to come out and get out of this thing get back soon as possible."

Adams reportedly has a torn labrum and additional damage to his left shoulder, which is the same shoulder he injured last year in his first season with Seattle.

"It wasn't as bad as the last time from what I understand," Carroll said.

Adams set an NFL record last year for the most sacks by a defensive back with 9.5 in his first season with the Seahawks. He didn't have any sacks for Seattle this year as the team made different choices with their defense this season and Adams rushed fewer times as a result. Despite Adams' lack of production in that area, Carroll insists that Adams brings a valuable presence to the team's defense.

"There's all of the fire that he brings and the explosive plays and big hits," Carroll said. "He's had a couple of picks. He's been doing everything except we haven't got him the sacks that we had a year ago. But other than that, he's been playing really hard and tough and he's got a lot of energy for us and been very positive."

Adams does have two interceptions this season, which matched his career total prior to this season. He intercepted Aaron Rodgers in the team's 17-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers and picked off Taylor Heinicke in last Monday's loss to the Washington Football Team.

Adams missed four games last year due to injuries to his shoulder and fingers. Both areas were addressed with surgeries this offseason. Now the shoulder is again in need of surgery for the second year in a row.

"He was really emotional about it last night just because it means so much to him to keep playing and he's been through this before and to have to go through it again, you know," Carroll said. "He was much, much more forward thinking, I think, this morning in the notes that I got from him and so he's gonna make the most of it."

Linebacker Bobby Wagner also spoke to what the team is losing with Adams out.

"His energy for sure," Wagner said. "It's another playmaker out there, a guy that you have to plan for in the game plan. You got to know where he's at, when you're watching film, you can see that offenses have to know where he's at because they have to be conscious of him blitzing. It's going to be a lot from his leadership, his energy his passion for the game, we're definitely going to miss that."

"The passion is the one that jumps off the tape. The way he plays the game, you can see how much he loves the game. Then his ability to blitz is unmatched. For a guy like that to be able to apply that amount of pressure to quarterbacks and strike that much fear into offenses, that's something special."

Adams will have the surgery on Thursday, Carroll said.

Ryan Neal will step into the starting role vacated by Adams' absence for the rest of the season. Neal started in place of Adams during his absences last season as well and he feels even more prepared to step into the role this year given his prior experience.

"It's a big blow losing a special guy like that, who means a lot to everybody on the team," Neal said of Adams. "Unfortunately, it's the second time this has happened in kind of similar fashion, which is crazy.

"For me, it's just the same thing. Just step in, be accountable, be there for the people around me, be there for my team, the defense, the coaches, everything. Of course it's an opportunity for me, but it ain't even about me. It's about everybody else. And how can we keep this thing rolling in direction that we got it."

Carroll said they are assessing their options for the roster with Adams now gone.

"There's a couple things that we're doing internally," Carroll said.

Ugo Amadi would remain the only other player listed as a safety on their roster behind Neal and Quandre Diggs. Nigel Warrior played in 49 games with 38 starts at safety for the University of Tennessee. Despite being listed as a cornerback, he would likely be one of the team's options should Diggs, Neal or Amadi get banged up.

Warrior has been on injured reserve most of the season after being claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens in September. He has yet to appear in a game for Seattle.

Injury Report:

Photo Credit: GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 14: Jamal Adams #33 of the Seattle Seahawks waits for a timeout during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 14, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Seahawks 17-0. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)