More than two years after playing his last game for the Falcons, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is returning to Atlanta for the 2016 season. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) reports that the Falcons and Weatherspoon have agreed to terms on a one-year contract.
Weatherspoon, 28, originally entered the NFL as a Falcons first-round draft pick, joining the team as the 19th player selected in the 2010 draft. Over the next four seasons, Weatherspoon played 47 games for Atlanta — in 2011, he started all 16 games, racking up 125 tackles to go along with four sacks. In his final two seasons with the Falcons, however, he missed all but seven games due to an Achilles injury in 2014, and knee and foot issues in 2013.
The Cardinals signed Weatherspoon a year ago as a free agent, but the veteran linebacker didn’t play a major role in Arizona, earning just 159 defensive snaps. Another year removed from his Achilles injury, Weatherspoon will attempt to make an impact in 2016 for the Falcons.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
The Falcons need to tighten up their defense. Weatherspoon might just help.