Former Saints fourth-round draft pick Khairi Fortt will have a chance to salvage his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, with whom he signed Monday, the team announced.
Fortt, who played in college at California, has had a bizarre first year in the NFL ever since the Saints drafted him 126th overall in May. He spent the preseason with New Orleans but hurt a hamstring in the Saints’ second exhibition after accumulating a lone tackle.
The Saints included him on their initial 53-man roster but placed him on short-term injured reserve to open a spot for veteran wide receiver Robert Meachem, who was released and re-signed by New Orleans before the start of the season.
Fortt was eligible to return to action for a Week 8 game against the Green Bay Packers. But he was waived Oct. 6 after missing at least two meetings, according to an NFL source.
Fortt had told The Advocate he was disappointed to be on short-term IR after coming relatively close to playing in his first NFL game. The Bengals acquired Fortt on waivers, kept him inactive for a game and cut him.
He subsequently cleared waivers and was free to sign anywhere. The Jaguars then picked him up after placing corner Will Blackmon on injured reserve with a hurt finger.
Fortt’s new team is 1-8 and is in last place in the AFC South division.