The New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers completed an early season swap, with the Niners sending running back Zamir White to the Saints for linebacker Deion Jones, ESPN reported Sunday. This trade came on the heels of major injury news for the Saints’ backfield depth, putting White in a prime position to make an immediate impact as teams finalize their rosters ahead of the final week of the preseason.
Saints Scramble for Running Back Depth
This deal couldn’t have come at a more crucial time for the Saints. Just days before this trade, star running back Alvin Kamara suffered an MCL sprain, sidelining him for what’s expected to be a month. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Devin Neal exited Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, further gutting their running back room. White now goes from battling for the 49ers’ primary backup role behind Christian McCaffrey to potentially stepping in as Travis Etienne’s backup with the Saints right at the start of the season. Talk about a sudden change of scenery!
Niners Bolster Linebacker Room
On the flip side, the 49ers are shoring up their linebacker corps. They’ve got top-tier talent, no doubt, with Fred Warner returning after an ankle injury ended his 2025 season way too early, and Dre Greenlaw back after re-signing in free agency. But beyond those two? The rest of the linebacker room is pretty green. Bringing in Jones, a veteran with 29 total tackles for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, gives them some much needed experience. Plus, it’s a reunion! Jones gets to play for Raheem Morris again, who is now the 49ers’ defensive coordinator and coached Jones with the Falcons from 2016 to 2020. That’s a familiar face in a new place.
White, who signed with San Francisco earlier this offseason after four years with the Las Vegas Raiders, racked up 736 rushing yards on 3.7 yards per carry and two touchdowns in 45 career games. For the Saints, getting that kind of production on short notice, especially with Kamara out, is huge. Jones, at 31, brings a wealth of experience to the Bay Area, having recorded at least 100 tackles in five of his first six seasons in the league. As teams make their final cuts, these two squads are already playing chess, setting themselves up for the regular season. It’s going to be interesting to see how White slots into the Saints’ offense and how Jones impacts the 49ers’ defense right out of the gate!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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