LB Fort finally gets the chance he’s wanted
Eagles are committed to him with 3-year, $5.5 million deal
“You can’t replace the reps and experience. Getting out there with the first team is invaluable. I’m grateful for it and trying to learn as much as I can.” — Eagles linebacker L.J. Fort
PHILADELPHIA — L.J. Fort’s NFL career began with a bang against the Eagles. Now, he’s hoping to take it to another level playing for the Birds.
Undrafted out of Northern Iowa in 2012, Fort made the Browns roster and started the opener at linebacker. He intercepted Eagles quarterback Michael Vick — the ball is on display at his home — and also sacked Vick.
“That was an emotional roller coaster, for sure,” Fort said with a smile during Tuesday’s organized team activities at the NovaCare Complex. “I’m playing against Mike Vick. He was the man growing up. … It was definitely a fun experience.”
Fort spent the next 6 ½ seasons almost exclusively playing special teams in a number of cities until the Steelers gave him a chance to play inside linebacker and call the defensive signals during the second half of 2018 in the wake of Ryan Shazier’s scary spinal contusion.
Fort made his second and third NFL starts during that time and accumulated a careerhigh 48 tackles last year, including 12 (nine solo) against the Chargers and eight (four solo) in the finale versus the Bengals. His only other season with more than 11 tackles was as a rookie in Cleveland, when he had 20.
“Just getting that opportunity to start and be the signal-caller — that’s my dream,” Fort said. “I was able to do that last year. Hopefully, I’ll keep building on that.”
The Eagles were impressed enough to sign the 29-year-old Fort to a three-year, $5.5 million contract in mid-March, with $1.9 million in guaranteed money.
Fort knew former starter Jordan Hicks was leaving Philly via free agency and figured the Eagles presented him with a chance to win as well as to get on the field at his preferred position.
“The opportunity to be able to put that on display [was significant],” he said.
The 6-foot, 232-pound Fort started at middle linebacker alongside veteran Kamu Grugier-Hill during OTAs on Tuesday and called the defensive signals, which shows how familiar he already is with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s system.
“You can’t replace the reps and experience,” Fort said. “Getting out there with the first team is invaluable. I’m grateful for it and trying to learn as much as I can.”
One starting linebacker spot will almost surely go to Nigel Bradham, who head coach Doug Pederson said last week was rehabilitating from an unspecified injury.
Zach Brown, another freeagent signee and a 2016 Pro Bowler with the Bills, might have the inside track at the second position, though Brown is also on the mend and not participating in on-the-field OTA drills.
Fort understands that while OTAs can help his cause, the coaches will determine the depth chart based on what happens at training camp in July and August.
“The coaches will make decisions after we get the pads on and get to banging around,” Fort said.
Schwartz has liked what he’s seen so far from Fort.
“He’s a good all-around player,” Schwartz said Tuesday. “Been a good special teams player. Plays the run well [and] fits into the pass game well.
“Even though he hasn’t started a lot in the NFL, he has a lot of experience just being on the practice field and seeing a lot of different situations over the course of the time he spent on different practice squads and as a backup player. It’s really been beneficial for him. He’s been a good acquisition for us.”
The way Fort views the situation, in 2018 he was able to give a taste of what he can do, but there’s plenty left to prove.
Fort gets that the perception around the league is he’s a special-teamer capable of doing a good job in third-down pass coverage, but he wants to show that he can be physical and effective against the run too.
“I feel like last year was a great opportunity for me just to display my potential upside,” he said. “I feel like I haven’t got to my potential yet. Hopefully, this year I have the opportunity to do that.”
It seems Fort will get his chance with the Birds. The rest is up to him, which is how he wants it.