Jamal Adams joins the Tennessee Titans with plenty to prove.
Adams burst on to the NFL scene after being drafted sixth overall by the New York Jets in 2017, and by his third season he had amassed two Pro Bowl bids and one first-team All-Pro honor.
But following a prolonged contract battle with Gang Green, Adams was shipped to the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the 2020 season, and his stint in the Pacific Northwest failed to live up to expectations.
Adams battled injuries throughout his four years in Seattle, never totaling more than 12 games in a season and playing a combined 10 games the past two campaigns as he dealt with the effects from a torn quad early in the 2022 season.
Adams, who signed a one-year contract with the Titans on Thursday, said recently that his priority is proving to himself -- not others -- that he's the player he used to be.
“I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder, for a long, long time," Adams told The Official Titans Podcast following his signing. "For me it’s more so just, I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong, I’m more so trying to prove myself right. I’m trying to get back out there to prove to myself that I’m still that guy and I still can play. Whether anybody believe in me or not, as long as I believe in myself that’s what matters.”
In Tennessee, Adams finds a team also looking to prove doubters wrong. The Titans stumbled to a 6-11 record last season -- the franchise's second consecutive losing campaign following three straight playoff trips -- and head coach Mike Vrabel was replaced by former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan.
Titans veterans are set to report for training camp on July 23.