Raiders Lose Lonnie Johnson Jr.: Why Moving Jamal Adams Back to Safety Isn’t the Answer

Las Vegas Raiders Facing Tough Call After Lonnie Johnson Jr. Injury: Is Jamal Adams Really the Answer at Safety?

Training camp has a way of bringing surprises, and not all of them are good ones. For the Las Vegas Raiders, a significant gut punch came when starting safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. went down with a broken fibula. That kind of injury doesn’t just slow you down — it wipes you off the field for months. Now, the coaching staff and front office find themselves in scramble mode, trying to plug a major hole in their defensive backfield.

What Now for Vegas?
With Johnson sidelined, Head Coach Pete Carroll — yes, that Pete Carroll, now leading the Raiders — has to figure out his next move. Replacing a projected starter at safety isn't exactly like swapping out a third-string tight end. It requires serious consideration, especially in a defense trying to establish itself in a brutal AFC West.

General Manager John Spytek has a couple of ways he could go here:

• Stick with what they’ve got on the current roster, hoping someone steps up.

• Explore the free-agent market for a veteran safety who can be a plug-and-play type.

• Get creative, maybe even consider shifting a player like Jamal Adams back to safety.

But let’s pump the brakes on that last idea for a moment.

💥 Tempting But Risky: The Jamal Adams Option

On paper, moving Jamal Adams back to safety might seem like the logical next step. After all, he’s been there, done that — three Pro Bowls, a reputation as a fierce competitor, and a guy who once wrecked backfields for breakfast.

But here's the catch: that was then. This is now.

Adams was signed by the Raiders in late July — a move that reunited him with Carroll, his former head coach in Seattle. At the time of the signing, Carroll made it clear Adams would be playing linebacker, not safety. And honestly, that shift made a ton of sense. In fact, Adams has been earning first-team reps at linebacker during camp and impressing in the role.

Patrick Graham, the Raiders’ defensive coordinator, is all-in on Adams at linebacker, praising his adjustment to the position and his energy on the field. Why mess with that progress?

🚫 Why Moving Adams Back Is a Bad Idea

Let’s break it down:

1. He's Thriving at LB – Adams looks revitalized at the second level of the defense. He’s more of a forward-charging, aggressive type of defender, and linebacker suits that profile beautifully.

2. He’s Lost a Step – Let’s be real — after suffering multiple injuries, including a torn labrum, hip issues, and a brutal torn quad tendon, Adams just doesn’t have the same wheels he used to. Playing safety in today’s NFL means covering sideline to sideline and matching up against some seriously twitchy receivers and tight ends. That’s not his game anymore.

3. He Was Always Better In the Box – Even at his peak, Adams was never your classic deep-coverage safety. He made his name by being a downhill missile, a guy who could disrupt the run and blitz with the best of them.

4. Moving Him Would Be a Setback – Adams is just getting comfortable at linebacker. Why derail that progress?

👀 Who Else Is Out There?

If Carroll and Spytek are serious about shoring up the safety spot, they’d be better served exploring the free-agent market. There are a handful of experienced safeties who could step in and offer both leadership and game-readiness. Sure, the ideal solution might not be walking through the door, but there are options that wouldn’t involve robbing Peter to pay Paul by shifting Adams again.

Names like:

• Duron Harmon – Former Raider, knows the system.

• John Johnson III – Solid if unspectacular, good coverage instincts.

• Logan Ryan – A veteran who could bring savvy to the secondary.

These guys aren’t All-Pros anymore, but they could bring stability — something the Raiders desperately need in the wake of Johnson’s injury.

🔁 The Carroll-Adams Reunion

Don’t overlook the emotional and strategic value of Carroll bringing in Adams again. Their Seattle connection can’t be ignored. From 2020 to 2023, Carroll tried everything to maximize Adams’ talents, even through injuries and declining production. Bringing him into Las Vegas wasn’t just a flier; it was a calculated move to breathe life back into a career that had gone off the rails.

And it’s working — at linebacker. Why risk undoing that momentum just because of an unfortunate injury in another area?

🎯 So What’s the Game Plan?

The smart money says the Raiders will stay patient. Maybe they promote someone from within for now and give them a chance to prove themselves. Meanwhile, they could monitor the market and wait for a veteran safety to become available — perhaps even closer to cut-down day when teams start trimming their rosters.

Adams? He stays put. He’s a linebacker now. And honestly, it might be the best thing that’s happened to him in years.

🔍 Final Thought: This Ain’t Madden

In a video game, sure — you just switch Adams back to safety and roll. But in the real NFL, it’s way more complicated. Players aren't interchangeable pieces, and positional changes aren’t always reversible. Adams at linebacker is a bet that’s starting to pay off. Let’s not blow it up out of desperation.

Yes, losing Lonnie Johnson Jr. is a setback. A big one. But the answer isn’t to rewind the clock on a player whose best days at safety are likely behind him. The Raiders need to move forward — not backward — if they want to compete this season.

🧩 Quick Recap:

• Lonnie Johnson Jr. is out with a broken fibula — a major blow to the secondary.

• Jamal Adams is not the answer at safety — he’s doing well at linebacker.

• Injuries have slowed Adams down, making a move back to coverage duties risky.

• Coach Carroll and GM Spytek must now explore free-agent options or lean on internal depth.

• The Raiders need to stay strategic, not reactive.