Falcons LB Deion Jones out for offseason after shoulder surgery

Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Deion Jones (45) is taking time off to recover from his shoulder surgery. Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons one-time Pro Bowl LB Deion Jones out for offseason after shoulder surgery

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/26/22

Deion Jones finished first among all Atlanta Falcons players in 2021 in tackles for loss with eight and second in combined tackles with 137, which was one short of his career high. The team will not be seeing the 2017 Pro Bowler on the field for a while though, as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

#Falcons’ Deion Jones to miss offseason after shoulder surgery https://t.co/Arg16i7Pzn
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) May 26, 2022

A former LSU Tiger, Jones was selected by the Falcons in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft and had a huge rookie season, finishing with 108 tackles, 11 passes defended and three interceptions (two of which were pick-sixes.) Jones' pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns and his 165 interception return yards both led the league and he finished third in the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

The linebacker stepped up even more in 2017 though, making his lone Pro Bowl after going for career highs in tackles (138) and tackles for loss (10), tying his career high with three interceptions and recording 10 passes defended as well. In 2018, Jones was limited to six games due to a foot injury, but he recovered to post 110 tackles and five passes defended in 2019.

During his fifth season in 2020, Jones registered career highs in quarterback hits (10) and sacks (4.5), while ending the year with six passes defended and two interceptions as well. In addition to his 137 tackles and eight tackles for loss last season, the 27-year-old had six passes defended and 2.0 sacks.

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