The Atlanta Falcons placed starting linebacker Deion Jones and four others on injured reserve Thursday.
Cornerback Isaiah Oliver, defensive lineman Marlon Davidson, offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield and tight end John FitzPatrick will also miss at least the first four games of the season.
Jones, 27, is the Falcons’ highest-paid player with a base salary of $9.64 million and a cap hit of $20 million this season, per Spotrac. He signed a four-year, $57 million extension in July 2019.
Jones had offseason shoulder surgery and was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 24.
Jones recorded 137 tackles and two sacks in 16 starts last season. He has posted 652 tackles, 11 interceptions and 8.5 sacks in 85 games (83 starts) since the Falcons drafted him in the second round in 2016. He made the Pro Bowl in 2017.
In corresponding moves, Atlanta restocked its 53-man roster by re-signing defensive lineman Abdullah Anderson, linebacker Nick Kwiatkowski and offensive lineman Colby Gossett, and claiming offensive tackle Chuma Edoga and defensive tackle Matt Dickerson off waivers.
–Field Level Media