BREAKING: Falcons Ex Deion Jones Signed by Rival Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are signing linebacker Deion Jones, who played with the Atlanta Falcons from 2016-22.

A former member of the Atlanta Falcons has found a new home in the NFC South. 

Former Falcons linebacker Deion Jones has been promoted to the Carolina Panthers' active roster after they put starting inside backer Shaq Thompson on the injured reserve following his injury that he suffered during Monday's game against the New Orleans Saints, according to the team's website. 

Jones was cut by the Panthers prior to the start of the regular season and was then signed to the practice squad. Yet, after Thompson went down with a fractured fibula, which likely sideline him for the rest of the season, they will call on the former Falcon to help fill the void. 

Deion Jones

Jones, 28, played with the Falcons for six seasons before he was traded in October to the Cleveland Browns, along with a 2024 seventh-round pick, for a 2024 sixth-round selection.

Jones played 11 games for the Browns last season and recorded 44 tackles and an interception. However, the Browns didn't offer him a contract at season's end.

The Falcons aren't all that far removed from Super Bowl-caliber rosters, despite how distant 2016 feels. Jones was just a rookie during the Atlanta Super Bowl run, but he was a key piece in the team's success, finishing third in rookie of the year voting behind Joey Bosa and Jalen Ramsey.

Jones logged 100+ tackles in consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2021 and has nine sacks in the last three seasons, including his time in Cleveland last year.

Jones will make his season debut with the Panthers on Sunday as they travel to Lumen Field to play the Seattle Seahawks.