Dashon Goldson signs with Falcons
The Atlanta Falconssigned free-agent safety Dashon Goldsonon Sunday, calling the pickup a depth move.
After Goldson worked out for the Falcons on Saturday, coach Dan Quinn made it clear that the veteran safety would have to accept a backup role if he signs.
"We've been very clear about what we're looking for," general manager Thomas Dimitroff said of Goldson's projected role as a backup. "He knows what his role is going to be for us, and that's very important."
The Falcons will be without rookie starting strong safety Keanu Neal, their first-round pick, for at least the first two regular-season games with a right knee injury. He will have arthroscopic surgery on Monday.
Backup Kemal Ishmael will fill in for Neal, Quinn said. Ishmael has missed the past two preseason games with a shoulder injury but could be back for Thursday night's final preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguarsand should be ready for Week 1.
The Falcons need depth at strong safety, with unproven Damian Parms and Sharrod Neasman also on the 75-man roster behind Neal and Ishmael. The Falcons released veteran safety Sergio Brown on Saturday following a brief stint.
"I like the physicality," Quinn said of Goldson after his workout. "[Neal] is our guy, so we told Dashon that as well. And [Neal] will be back shortly. But [Goldson] did a really good job today, just moving around and his approach. You can really tell, even in a short interaction, what he stands for as a ballplayer."
Dimitroff echoed the coach's thoughts on Goldson's physicality.
"Goldson looked good. He moved around well," Dimitroff said of Goldson's workout. "He came in at a solid weight. He's a big guy, as you know, who's rangy and can move around athletically for a guy who can play both strong and free. Obviously in our situation, he's more of a strong safety with this team."
Goldson, who turns 32 in September, was released by the Washington Redskins on March 7. The team saved $8 million on their salary cap with the move.
Goldson started 15 regular-season games for Washington in 2015 as well as their playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. He finished with a career-best 110 tackles last season, his first with the Redskins.
Washington obtained Goldson in a trade last spring from Tampa Bay, where he spent two seasons. Goldson earned two Pro Bowl berths in six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Goldson has been fined a number of times in his career for illegal hits, including three times in 2013. He was suspended one game for a helmet-to-helmet hit early in the 2013 season, though it was later reduced to a $100,000 fine. Another hit drew a one-game suspension, costing him $264,705. After a third incident, he received a $60,000 fine. He did not receive a fine in 2015.
ESPN's Vaughn McClure and John Keim and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
