Cleveland Browns acquire linebacker Deion Jones from Atlanta Falcons to bolster defense

CLEVELAND — The Browns made their trade with the Atlanta Falcons for linebacker Deion Jones official on Monday morning.

The trade first came to light Sunday evening, hours after the Browns' loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Browns will also receive a 2024 seventh-round pick, while they're sending the Falcons a 2024 sixth-round pick.

Jones, a 2017 Pro Bowl selection, has spent this season to date on injured reserved. He underwent offseason surgery on his right shoulder, but had to pass a physical in order to make the trade to Cleveland official.

"He gets in tomorrow," coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday. "Obviously, we'll put our eyes on him and that type of thing. We just felt we could add a veteran linebacker to the group and it was the right thing to do."

The Browns defense has been shredded the past two weeks, first by Jones' former team and then Sunday in a 30-28 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers, who had come into the game last in the league averaging 64.5 rushing yards a game, ran for 238 yards against the Browns.

Those struggles coincide with the season-ending torn quad tendon suffered by middle linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. in the third quarter a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 22. Third-year pro Jacob Phillips has stepped into Walker's spot the past two weeks.

Jones was a 2016 second-round pick out of LSU. He has 652 career tackles, 8.5 sacks, 11 interceptions (five of which have been returned for touchdowns), four forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in his career.

The Browns made multiple minor moves on Monday, starting with waiving tight end Miller Forristall. Forristall was inactive against the Chargers after having been the third tight end against Pittsburgh and Atlanta.

Also cut was quarterback Josh Rosen, who had been on the practice squad. Rosen was the fourth quarterback on the team, behind active-roster players Jacoby Brissett, Joshua Dobbs and Kellen Mond.

The final move was to waive from injured reserve offensive tackle Elijah Nkansah.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ