Report: Falcons don't plan to cut Deion Jones amid failed trade attempts

The Atlanta Falcons don't plan to cut Deion Jones despite failing to trade the linebacker, a source told The Athletic's Jeff Schultz.

The decision to part with Jones has to do with his attitude and whether the club's football operations want him around others, Schultz reports.

The former Pro Bowler's $20-million cap hit is the highest on the Falcons roster for 2022, according to Over the Cap. He's owed $9.6 million in base salary and has two years remaining on his contract.

Jones began training camp on the physically unable to perform list due to a shoulder injury. General manager Terry Fontenot noted that there's no timetable for his return to the field.

Fontenot was also reluctant to specify whether Jones was in the team's long-term plans.

"You can ask that question about any player on our roster, and we'll answer it the same way," he said, according to The Athletic's Josh Kendall. "We're always trying to build a roster the right way, and every decision we make is going to be for the betterment of the team as a whole."

Rashaan Evans, Mykal Walker, and Nick Kwiatkoski are among candidates vying for the starting inside linebacker role while Jones remains in limbo.

Jones finished second on the team with 137 tackles to go along with eight tackles for loss. The 27-year-old has started all but two games he's appeared in since joining the team in 2016.