Falcons will reportedly sign former Eagles and Broncos linebacker Corey Nelson

The Falcons have signed two former Eagles defenders on the same day. I’m sure the former team is a coincidence, but maybe the Falcons are hoping for a little Philadelphia magic.

This time, it’s Corey Nelson, who is much better known for his four year stint in Denver than his brief stop with Philadelphia. Nelson’s a 26-year-old inside linebacker with 104 tackles, one sack and six pass deflections spread out over four seasons in Denver. He played 53 of a possible 64 games for the Broncos, serving primarily as a reserve defender and special teamer for them.

As Rapoport notes above, this is probably Deion Jones insurance, and it makes me a little more worried about that “sore foot” than I would have been otherwise. It’s likely that Duke Riley or Foye Oluokun would slide in and start if Jones is out, but Nelson could soak up some snaps and play special teams. If Jones plays, maybe Nelson can still hang on as a deep reserve.

No corresponding move has been announced yet, but if Josh Harris is healthy, it’s a safe bet that Jeff Overbaugh will be getting cut. Stay tuned for the other half of this transaction. Welcome Nelson to Atlanta!