Atlanta Falcons sign S Dashon Goldson

The Atlanta Falcons signed two-time Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson on Sunday to bolster the depth in their secondary.

Goldson, 31, worked out for the team on Saturday after the Falcons learned they will be without rookie starting strong safety Keanu Neal, their 2016 first-round pick, for at least the first two regular-season games with a right knee injury. Neal is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on Monday.

Backup safety Kemal Ishmael will fill in for Neal with Goldson serving in a backup role.

"We've been very clear about what we're looking for," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "(Goldson) knows what his role is going to be for us, and that's very important."

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Goldson was originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft out of Washington. He spent six years with the 49ers, recording 278 total tackles, 14 interceptions and 34 passes defensed in 81 games played.

Goldson was selected to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2011 and 2012, and he was also selected first team All-Pro in 2012.

In 2013, Goldson was signed by Tampa Bay where he spent two years with the Buccaneers, recording 117 total tackles in 27 games played. Last season, he had 69 tackles, one interception, three passes defensed and one forced fumble in 15 games for the Washington Redskins.