Deion Jones' didn't last long.
The New Orleans Saints traded the veteran linebacker Sunday to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for running back Zamir White, according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter. The trade comes three weeks after the Saints signed the Jesuit grad.
But Sunday's trade helps the Saints at a position recently decimated by injuries. Devin Neal (hamstring), Audric Estime (foot) and Alvin Kamara (knee) have all gotten hurt in the last week or so, now causing New Orleans to seek help. The only other healthy backs for Friday's preseason finale against the Dallas Cowboys would have been Travis Etienne, Kendre Miller and undrafted C.J. Donaldson. Coach Kellen Moore has also not said whether he plans to play the team's starters, which would make Etienne unavailable.
In White, the Saints pick up a running back who spent his first four seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. The 26-year-old has appeared in 45 games with nine starts, rushing for 736 yards on 198 attempts.
White signed with the 49ers in the offseason, but is now headed to New Orleans.
For Jones, he'll reunite with 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris — his coach in Atlanta, where the linebacker starred to begin his career. But he'll officially miss out on an opportunity to complete his tour around the NFC South as he's played for the Falcons, Panthers and Buccaneers.
Then again, he faced long odds to make the roster, which could explain why the Saints felt comfortable making the trade.