Atlanta Falcons Sign S Tyrell Johnson With Dwight Lowery Hurt

With free-agent signee Dwight Lowery’s season in doubt after sustaining a concussion during a scrimmage Friday night, the Atlanta Falcons announced Sunday they have signed safety Tyrell Johnson.

Johnson, 29, started 15 games at strong safety for the Minnesota Vikings in 2009, helping them reach the NFC Championship.

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But his career took a downward turn from there and he did not play in the NFL in 2013 after being released by the Detroit Lions in the final cuts.

He last played with the Lions in 2012.

Johnson was a second-round pick by the Vikings out of Arkansas State in 2008 and played four years with the Vikings. He was cut by the Miami Dolphins out of training camp in 2012 and later played four games with Detroit that season.

He has two career interceptions in 53 career games with 10 passes defensed and 89 tackles.

Lowery was signed as a free agent after three years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. But he missed the final 13 games of last season after sustaining his second career concussion.

ESPN.com reported Sunday that Lowery may miss the entire season.

Entering his seventh year in the league, Lowery played three years with the New York Jets after being taken in the fourth round of the 2008 draft out of San Jose State.

He was traded to Jacksonville for a draft pick in September 2011. Lowery has 10 career interceptions, five forced fumbles and 44 passes defensed in 68 games, 41 of them starts.