SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers added depth at linebacker by acquiring Deion Jones in a trade with the New Orleans for running back Zamir White.
The two sides reached the deal Sunday night, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade hadn't been announced.
ESPN first reported the deal.
The trade came a week before teams are required to cut down their rosters from 90 players to 53 for the start of the season with both teams adding depth this week for players who weren't expected to make the roster.
The 31-year-old Jones had been mostly a reserve player the past two seasons in Tampa Bay seeing most of his action on special teams. He spent his first six seasons in the NFL in Atlanta, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2017 and playing on 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris' defense in 2020.
San Francisco doesn't have a glaring need at linebacker where Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw are projected as two of the starters and several other players are in the running for a backup spot. But Nick Martin and Jalen Graham have been out of practice the past few days with an injury and the Niners could be looking for another body for practice this week and the final exhibition game on Thursday night against Las Vegas.
New Orleans was in need of help at running back after Alvin Kamara went down with a sprained knee this past week that could sideline him for a month.
White had 14 carries for 30 yards in two exhibition games for San Francisco but wasn't needed any more with All-Pro Christian McCaffrey and rookie Kaelon Black returning to practice this past week following injuries.
White spent his first four seasons in Las Vegas and had 198 carriers for 736 yards with his production coming late in the 2023 season.
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FILE - Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Deion Jones (45) intercepts a pass from New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, not pictured, and returns it for a touchdown, in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, on Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh busted out of a season-long slump with the first three-homer game of his career Monday night.
The switch-hitting catcher capped a five-run first inning with a two-run shot off struggling Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler. Raleigh and Cole Young opened the fifth with back-to-back homers, chasing Wheeler, and Raleigh connected for another solo shot off reliever Chase Shugart in the seventh to give him 17 home runs this season.
“I had never done that before — at any level. So, hard to fathom, and it was a fun night,” Raleigh said.
It was the first multihomer game of the year for Raleigh, who finished 3 for 3 with a walk in a 9-2 victory and raised his batting average from .159 to .167. He began the night with a strikeout rate of 31.2%.
“I’ve been feeling better in the box,” Raleigh said. “Physically, trying to just get my hands back sooner and I feel like I’ve done a better job of that. And then mentally, it’s just been about that belief and just having that hope and that optimism every single day. Not getting too down, not getting too up and, you know, trying to just be ready and prepared for the game.”
Raleigh pulled all three homers to right field from the left side of the plate, becoming the 13th player in franchise history to hit three home runs in a game. The previous one was teammate Dominic Canzone on Sept. 16 last year.
The only other Seattle catcher to accomplish the feat was current Mariners manager Dan Wilson in April 1996.
Raleigh was runner-up for the AL MVP award last year, when he led the majors with 60 home runs and added 125 RBIs. He helped the Mariners reach the American League Championship Series, where they lost in seven games to Toronto.
“Finding the barrel more often, taking his walks more often, swinging at better pitches more often. Tonight was just a combination of all of that again,” Wilson said. “To get up there and do it left-handed like he did tonight, I think all of us love to see it and love to see the smile and just all the work that he’s put in. So, a big night for him.”
Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert was thrilled to see it, too.
“That’s just huge I think for confidence and for (getting) rolling,” Gilbert said. “You know how this team does when he gets hot and gets rolling, so I think we’re in a good spot.”
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Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh (29) is greeted by teammate Weston Wilson after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh, center, reacts after accidentally jumping into the ceiling of the dugout while celebrating his solo home run with pitcher Bryce Miller, left, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh follows through on a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits a two-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
