Cowboys reach agreement with Jasper Brinkley

The Cowboys took a step toward filling their needs at linebacker by coming to terms with Jasper Brinkley on a two-year deal, per a source.

The ex Viking needs to pass a physical for the deal to be official. He would shore up a depleted linebacker corps that has lost Justin Durant (Atlanta) and Bruce Carter (Tampa Bay) in free agency and is still uncertain regarding the return of middle linebacker Rolando McClain.

Brinkley, 30, had 54 tackles in 11 starts with the Vikings in 2014 after returning to the team following a one-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals. He played with the Vikings from 2009-2012 after being a fifth-round pick out of South Carolina.

Brinkley can play middle linebacker and would be insurance in case McClain doesn’t return, while continuing the plan to allow to Sean Lee to move to weakside linebacker.

Brinkley is the second linebacker the Cowboys have signed in free agency, joining Keith Rivers.

This story was originally published March 12, 2015 at 10:33 PM with the headline "Cowboys reach agreement with Jasper Brinkley."