Josh Adams started five games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 and emerged as the team’s main running back option once Jay Ajayi tore his ACL in early October. In his small playing window, he led the team in rushing yards (511) and yards per carry (4.3).
Overall, Adams' numbers weren’t spectacular — his yards-per-carry average ranked 29th amongst all NFL running backs in 2018 — but as a rookie, he proved that he was serviceable in the backfield and looked like he would have a productive career in the league.
But right after the Eagles’ divisional playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints, Adams had surgery on a torn labrum that sidelined him for six months. This caused him to miss the Eagles offseason conditioning program that started in April.
At the end of the preseason in 2019, Adams was cut by the Eagles and then picked up by the New York Jets for their practice squad.
Adams’ young career illustrates why, perhaps more than any other American professional sport, the NFL is a fickle line of work. Outside of star players who earn large guaranteed contracts, the livelihood of each player is on the line during every game and practice. One injury or one offseason surgery can put them behind the eight ball and ultimately lead to practice squad duty or another occupation altogether.
Bennett Jackson, whom Irish In The NFL covered recently, was cut last Monday by the Jets shortly after the team sent out a Tweet wishing him happy birthday. The tweet was subsequently taken down, and Jackson is now on the team’s practice squad.
Another Jets player, Matthias Farley, started for the Colts in 2017 and was still released by the team during this preseason.
The ease and willingness of NFL teams to waive players can create a roller coaster of sorts for them.
After a productive preseason, former Irish wide receiver TJ Jones was released by the New York Giants before week one, re-signed the following week and ended up with three receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown, while he also returned a punt for 60 yards, in the team’s 28-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Far From New
Mike Golic, the former Notre Dame defensive lineman and current ESPN Radio host, spent nine years in the NFL and played for the Houston Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins. While nine years may be a long career by NFL standards, it still ended unexpectedly.
Per a recent article from Business Insider, Golic suffered a partially torn knee ligament early in the 1993 season while he was with the Dolphins. Knowing how much an injury would impact his career, he fought through the pain the entire season and waited until the offseason to have surgery.
Knowing he needed to get back to playing as soon as possible, Golic decided he wanted to try to practice just three months later in April, the same month that the team drafted two defensive tackles.
“I was still recovering from the knee surgery and training and such,” Golic said on his radio show in 2016. “I wanted to give mini-camp a good test for my knee. It wasn’t 100 percent [healthy] by any chance. So, I was in talking to the team trainer about my knee. I said, ‘Listen, it is not really 100 percent, but I want to go out here and I want to try to see what it can do during mini-camp.’
“He said, ‘Well, if you are going to go out there, you need to sign this piece of paper that says your knee is fine and you are going to go practice.’ I did because I wanted to go out there and practice.”
The remaining $650,000 of his contract wasn’t guaranteed, but the Dolphins also couldn’t cut Golic if he were injured. By signing that piece of paper so he could try to be a productive member of the team, the Dolphins had what they needed to release him even if he weren’t technically healthy.
“So I sign the piece of paper, open the door and there was somebody standing right there,” Golic said on his show, pointing in front of him. “I couldn’t even leave the room, and he said, ‘The general manager wants to see you.’ And I am like, ‘You've got to be kidding me.’”
Professional football players put up with a lot — a demanding schedule, consistent pain and public scrutiny. Often the argument for why this is okay is that the players are well compensated. But in reality, many of them aren’t and they have poor job security.
So while they’re being idolized for a big hit or scoring a touchdown, it’s also important to remember and appreciate that they're giving their all, even when an injury or an unproductive week could bring their time playing football to an end.
Former Notre Dame Football Players In The NFL Week Three Recap
Here is how former Notre Dame players fared during week three of the NFL season:
• Miles Boykin (Played at Notre Dame from 2015-18), WR, Baltimore Ravens: Was targeted once with no catches in the 2-1 Ravens’ 33-28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs … He played on 37 percent of the special team snaps.
• Sheldon Day (2012-15), DL, San Francisco 49ers: Recorded one tackle in the 3-0 49ers’ 24-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Tyler Eifert (2009-12), TE, Cincinnati Bengals: Reeled in one catch for 18 yards in 0-3 Cincinnati’s 21-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
• Matthias Farley (2011‑15), DB, New York Jets: Saw action on 20 percent of special team snaps during the 0-3 Jets’ 30-14 loss to the New England Patriots … Has not played a defensive snap since being picked up by the Jets at the end of the preseason.
• Will Fuller (2013-15), WR, Houston Texans: Snagged five receptions on seven targets for 51 yards in the 2-1 Texans’ 27-20 road win versus the Los Angeles Chargers … His longest catch of the day went for 30 yards.
• Bennett Jackson (2010-13), CB, New York Jets: After being cut last week by the 0-3 Jets, he was placed on the organization’s practice squad.
• J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers: Played in 30 percent of the team’s special teams snaps in the 1-2 Panthers’ 38-20 road win over the Arizona Cardinals … The Panthers punted twice, kicked one field goal and attempted five extra points.
• TJ Jones (2010‑13), WR, New York Giants: After catching a touchdown pass the week before, he was not targeted in 1-2 New York’s 32-31 road win versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers … He did have one fumble on special teams that the Giants recovered.
• DeShone Kizer (2014-16), QB, Oakland Raiders: Was inactive during 1-2 Oakland’s 34-14 road loss to the Minnesota Vikings … Has yet to see game action since joining the team at the end of the preseason.
• Julian Love (2015-18), CB, New York Giants: Was inactive this week for the 1-2 Giants’ win over the Buccaneers … He worked at both nickel and at free safety during the preseason.
• Nick Martin (2011-15), OL, Houston Texans: For the third game in a row, he played 100 percent of the offensive snaps at center in Texans’ win over the Chargers.
• Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys: Was slowed during the week due to a nagging back issue, but still started and played every offensive snap for the 3-0 Cowboys in their 31-6 home win over the Miami Dolphins … Was named to Pro Football Focus' (PFF) NFL Team of the Week by being the league's top graded player at his position.
• Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, San Francisco 49ers: Played 97.5 percent of the offensive snaps for the 49ers in their victory versus the Steelers.
• Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts: Played 100 percent of the offensive snaps for the 2-1 Colts in their 27-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
• Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DE, Detroit Lions: Made five tackles in the 2-0-1 Lions’ 27-24 road win versus the Philadelphia Eagles … Pro Football Focus graded him out as the Lions’ best player on the defensive side of the ball.
• C.J. Prosise (2012-15), RB, Seattle Seahawks: Carried the ball four times for five yards in the 2-1 Seahawks’ 33-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints … He also had five receptions for 38 yards, with a long of 21 yards.
• Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Made one tackle while playing 16.7 percent of the defensive snaps and 59.3 of the special team snaps in Los Angeles' loss to Houston.
• Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Minnesota Vikings: Hauled in the only pass thrown his way for an 11-yard reception in the 2-1 Vikings’ dominating win against the Raiders.
• Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings: Notched four tackles — a low total for him — an interception and one pass deflection in the win against the Raiders … Tied for 51st in the NFL in tackles with 19 through three contests.
• Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Registered a game-high 10 tackles (eight solo) and forced a fumble … Tied for ninth in the NFL in tackles with 27.
• Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins: Was targeted once and had zero receptions in the 0-3 Dolphins’ loss to the Cowboys.
• Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens: Played in 100 percent of the offensive snaps in the Ravens’ loss to the Chiefs.
• Golden Tate (2007-09), WR, New York Giants: Serving a four-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs and has yet to play.
• Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Despite playing 38.3 percent of the defensive snaps for the Chargers, he did not record a tackle in their loss to the Texans.
• Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers: Did not register a defensive snap, but played in 66.7 percent of the special team snaps and recorded one solo tackle.
• Stephon Tuitt (2011-13), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Registered seven tackles and one sack for the 0-3 Steelers in their loss to the 49ers ... Tied for sixth in the NFL in sacks (3.5) and tied for second in tackles for loss (six).
• Dexter Williams (2015-18), RB, Green Bay Packers: Was once again inactive for the 3-0 Packers, this time for the team’s 27-16 win over the Broncos.
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