The Eagles added a player without the last name Jackson as the team signed veteran linebacker L.J. Fort to a three-year deal on Thursday.
Originally signed by the Browns as a rookie free agent in 2012, Fort enjoyed the best season of his NFL career in 2018 with the Steelers as a reserve inside linebacker and special teams ace with 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack in 15 games (two starts). He played 29 percent of the snaps on defense and 75 percent of the special teams snaps.
In the Steelers' Week 5 win over Atlanta, Fort sacked Matt Ryan on a critical third down for the third quarterback takedown of his career. He also recovered a fumble in the end zone for his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter. In Week 13 against the Chargers, Fort led all defenders with a game-high and career-best 12 tackles and blocked a punt on special teams.
Named the FCS Defensive Player of the Year by the College Sporting News at Northern Iowa, the 6-0, 232-pound Fort made the Browns' 53-man roster out of Training Camp and started against the Eagles in his NFL debut, intercepting quarterback Michael Vick. Fort played all 16 games as a rookie, but bounced around – and moved positions playing fullback as well as linebacker – before landing with the Steelers in 2015. In all, he's spent time with the Browns, Broncos, Seahawks, Bengals, Patriots, and Steelers prior to signing in Philadelphia.
