Eagles Sign Backup Linebacker L.J. Fort

The Eagles signed seven-year veteran LB L.J. Fort to a three-year, $5.6 million contract, a league source said Thursday morning.

Fort has played for the Browns, Bengals, Seahawks and Steelers, mainly as a backup and special teamer.

Fort's base salary is fully guaranteed in 2019. The total guarantee on the deal is $1.9 million. 

He's been with Pittsburgh the last four years and since 2016 played in 60 of a possible 64 games, including two starts last year. He has three career sacks. In 2018, Fort played 305 defensive snaps (29.2 percent) with the Steelers. 

The nature of Fort's deal indicates that the Eagles will likely keep him as a reserve linebacker and special teamer.

The contract includes an $875,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $1.025 million this year and $1.5 million in each of the next two years. It also includes $600,000 in roster bonuses - $100,000 this year and $250,000 the next two years in the form of weekly roster bonuses.

Fort made the Browns in 2012 as an undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa and played in 16 games with one start. He was in camp with the Broncos in 2013 and then had brief stints with the Bengals and Seahawks in 2014 before settling in with the Steelers the last four seasons.

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