Jamal Adams says he is “rebuilding from the ground up” as he adds to Vikings foundation

The Minnesota Vikings’ camp storyline this week is not about a single moment, but about process. Veteran defender Jamal Adams described his current approach as a rebuild, telling Vikings Entertainment Network’s Tatum Everett that “you gotta kinda start all over,” after time spent getting his body and mentality back to where he wants them to be.

Adams said the work has taken years, explaining, “It took some time. It took about 3 years.” He tied that period directly to the way he is preparing now, emphasizing that the goal is not just to return, but to do it in a way that lets him contribute consistently from day to day.

From there, Adams expanded the theme from personal recovery to team identity. The idea of “rebuilding from [the] ground up” was presented as both mental and physical, suggesting he views this phase of his career as long-term construction, not a quick fix.

For the Vikings, that framing matters because training camp is where expectations become routines. Adams’ comments place emphasis on readiness and cohesion, the two areas a veteran can influence most when the room is trying to establish habits early in the summer.

The quote set also reflects the reality that rebuilding is rarely linear. Adams’ language pointed to a deliberate restart, which implies he is prioritizing fundamentals and stability as he looks to carry the defensive culture he wants into practices and the next stage of the season.

Adams’ role as someone “adding to” the team’s foundation suggests that his value is not only tied to execution in individual drills, but also to how he helps the Vikings establish a reliable baseline. Camp is often when players learn the tempo of each other, and Adams positioned his own recovery as a key part of being able to do that work.

What to watch next is whether that “ground up” emphasis shows up in repeatable practice habits, particularly in how he approaches conditioning, assignment execution, and communication through the week. If the Vikings’ defensive group is building continuity, Adams’ offseason reset is one of the clearest internal narratives to follow as August moves closer.

As of the Vikings’ latest team coverage, Adams’ message is grounded in personal preparation and continuity rather than a specific on-field incident. That makes this camp moment more about direction than reaction, and it sets the tone for how Minnesota hopes its veteran experience translates into a dependable defensive foundation.