Vikings Lose Jamal Adams for Season, Cardinals Rookie RB Jeremiyah Love Hurt as NFL Preseason Injuries Mount
The opening weekend of NFL preseason play produced significant injury news for two teams, with newly signed Minnesota Vikings safety Jamal Adams undergoing season-ending knee surgery and Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love likely sidelined for the rest of the preseason with a high ankle sprain — even as roster moves elsewhere in the league, including veteran pass rusher Von Miller reportedly signing with the Dallas Cowboys, continued shaping teams’ depth ahead of Week 1.
Jamal Adams’s Season-Ending Injury
Adams, who had recently signed with the Vikings, suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s preseason action and was carted off the field, according to Yahoo Sports. As feared in the moments following the injury, the newly signed safety underwent season-ending knee surgery, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, as reported by Yahoo Sports. The injury represents a significant setback for Minnesota’s secondary depth heading into the regular season, given how recently Adams had joined the team.
Jeremiyah Love’s Ankle Injury
Arizona’s rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, whom the Cardinals selected with the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, is likely out for the remainder of the preseason while dealing with a high ankle sprain, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Despite the injury, the Cardinals remain hopeful that Love will be ready to go for the team’s regular-season Week 1 opener, according to the same report.
The injury adds a note of caution to what had otherwise been an active offseason for Arizona at the running back position — Love was the first running back selected in the top five of the NFL Draft since Saquon Barkley in 2018, reflecting the significant draft capital the Cardinals invested in the position this year.
Von Miller Signing With the Cowboys
Dallas is reportedly bolstering its pass rush with a familiar veteran name. The Cowboys are expected to sign linebacker Von Miller, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Miller himself confirmed the deal on social media, though specific contract terms had not been disclosed as of Sunday night.
Context: A Loaded Opening Preseason Weekend
These developments capped what Yahoo Sports described as a loaded slate of NFL preseason games played from Friday, August 13, through Sunday, August 15 — Preseason Week 1 for the 2026 season. With no games scheduled for Sunday, August 16, itself, the league’s next preseason action resumes Thursday, August 20, when all 32 teams play during Preseason Week 2, running from August 20 through August 23.
That Thursday slate opens with a national television doubleheader, according to Yahoo Sports, including the Las Vegas Raiders traveling to face the Houston Texans at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN — one of two games scheduled for the night.
Notable Storylines From Preseason Week 1
Beyond the injury news, the opening weekend offered other glimpses of teams’ 2026 rosters taking shape. According to MSN’s preseason coverage, a veteran wide receiver made an early impression during the Denver Broncos’ preseason opener, catching three passes for 60 yards across the team’s first two offensive possessions and nearly coming down with a 40-yard touchdown. Separately, the New York Jets got a look at their receiving corps’ health, with a receiver returning from a 2025 knee injury catching two of three targets from rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik during the team’s opening drive, including an acrobatic 21-yard reception on third-and-long.
What’s Ahead for the 2026 Season
This year’s regular season carries its own notable scheduling quirk: the NFL will begin on a Wednesday for the first time since 2012, according to Yahoo Sports, with the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots opening the season in a rematch of Super Bowl 60.
FAQ
What happened to Jamal Adams? The newly signed Minnesota Vikings safety suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s preseason game and subsequently underwent season-ending knee surgery.
Is Jeremiyah Love expected to play in Week 1? The Arizona Cardinals rookie running back is likely out for the rest of the preseason with a high ankle sprain, but the team remains hopeful he’ll be ready for the regular-season opener.
Which team is Von Miller reportedly signing with? The Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter; Miller confirmed the deal himself on social media.
When does the NFL preseason resume after this past weekend? Thursday, August 20, with Preseason Week 2 running through August 23, including a national doubleheader featuring the Raiders at the Texans.
When does the 2026 regular season begin? On a Wednesday — the first time that’s happened since 2012 — with the Seattle Seahawks facing the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl 60.
Conclusion
The opening weekend of NFL preseason action delivered a reminder of how quickly injuries can reshape a team’s outlook even before the games start counting, with both Minnesota and Arizona now facing real questions about depth at key positions heading into the regular season. With Preseason Week 2 opening Thursday and rosters continuing to take shape around moves like Von Miller’s reported signing in Dallas, teams have just a few more weeks to finalize their depth charts before the season’s unusual Wednesday kickoff between the Seahawks and Patriots.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN, NFL Network, MSN, Pro Football Network (reporting dated August 13-17, 2026).