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Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons trade Duke Riley for safety help

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 20: Johnathan Cyprien #37 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during warm ups prior to the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 20, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***Johnathan Cyprien

Credit: Rey Del Rio

Credit: Rey Del Rio

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 20: Johnathan Cyprien #37 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during warm ups prior to the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 20, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***Johnathan Cyprien
By
Sept 30, 2019

The Falcons, looking for safety help, traded linebacker Duke Riley to the Eagles for safety Johnathan Cyprien on Monday.

The Falcons also sent a sixth-round pick to the Eagles and received a seventh-round pick in return.

Cyprien, 29, was drafted in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2013 draft by Jacksonville and has played in 74 games with 70 starts. Cyprien played for the Jaguars from 2013-16, Tennessee in 2017 and signed with the Eagles this offseason.

Riley was drafted by the Falcons in the third-round of the 2017 draft. He played in 32 games and made 16 starts.

The Falcons were in need of safety help after J.J. Wilcox (knee) and Keanu Neal (Achilles) were lost with season-ending injuries.

Against the Titans, Kemal Ishmael took over for Neal in the base defense. In the nickel, Damontae Kazee went to free safety, Ricardo Allen went to strong safety, rookie Kendall Sheffield played nickel back and Ishmael came out.

About the Author

Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

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