The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bringing Deion Jones back to the NFC South.
On Tuesday, the Buccaneers signed Jones, a ninth-year linebacker who played his first six seasons in Atlanta, to their practice squad. There was an open spot on that 17-man unit following last week's promotion of rookie linebacker Antonio Grier to the active roster.
Jones was drafted by the Falcons in the second round in 2016 and he finished third in the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after combining 108 tackles with three interceptions that he returned for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Jones then started all 16 games in his second season and earned a Pro Bowl berth after snaring three more picks.
In his best seasons, Jones was considered one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL, as evidenced by his 13 career interceptions and 53 passes defensed. He has at least one interception in seven of his eight seasons.
The Falcons traded Jones to the Cleveland Browns in October of 2022 after he had spent the first half of that season on injured reserve. He returned from I.R. to play 11 games with five starts for Cleveland, reording 44 tackles, an interception, five passes defensed and a forced fumble. Jones then signed with the Carolina Panthers in August of 2023 and appeared in 13 games with three starts for the Bucs' division rival. He went to training camp with the Buffalo Bills this past summer but was released in late August.
The recent rash of injuries to Tampa Bay defenders recently hit the linebacking corps, which lost starter K.J. Britt to an ankle sprain in Carolina in Week 13. J.J. Russell was set to start in his place against Las Vegas in Week 14 but suffered a hamstring injury in practice on the preceding Friday. Neither Britt nor Russell were able to play against the Raiders and Head Coach Todd Bowles expressed doubt that Britt would return this week.
