FLOWERY BRANCH -- Outside linebacker James Vaughters, formerly of the Chicago Bears, signed with the Falcons on Friday, according to his agent Fred Lyles.
The team later announced the signing, along with wide receiver Keelan Doss. Both were added to the practice squad. To make room for Doss, the Falcons released running back D’Onta Foreman from the practice squad.
Vaughters, who played at Tucker High and Stanford and was a member of the AJC’s Super 11 in 2010, had stints with the Packers, Patriots, San Diego Chargers and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League before his breakthrough with the Bears in 2019.
He will be reunited with position coach Ted Monachino, who came to the Falcons from the Bears this offseason.
Vaughters, who’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 264 pounds, has played in 17 NFL games. He played a career-high 243 snaps last season for the Bears.
Doss, who played at California-Davis, was signed by the Raiders after the 2019 draft.
Here are the other members of the practice squad: offensive tackle Willie Beavers, outside linebacker Quinton Bell, inside linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee, wide receiver Juwan Green, running back Caleb Huntley, safety Dwayne Johnson, guard Sam Jones, guard Ryan Neuzil, outside linebacker George Obinna, tight end John Raine, defensive tackle Chris Slayton, wide receiver Austin Trammell, tight end David Wells and cornerback Chris Williamson.
Per NFL rules for the 2021 season, clubs have the ability to protect up to four practice-squad players per week from being signed from other teams, to elevate two practice-squad players to the active roster before 4 p.m. the day before a game and to elevate an additional practice-squad player within 90 minutes before kickoff in the event of a late COVID-19 positive test result.
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