Luke Fortner wasn’t far removed from leaving New Orleans when he heard the news.
The offensive lineman had played a road game against the New Orleans Saints hours earlier, but still made the flight back with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Shortly after landing, Fortner was on the team’s bus when he was told he needed to be seen in an executive’s office as soon as they got back to the Jaguars’ facility.
He was being traded to the Saints — the team he had just played.
“I got on a flight the next day, so here we are,” Fortner said.
At least he had time to pack.
The Saints acquired Fortner in exchange for defensive tackle Khalen Saunders. Speaking to reporters Monday for the first time since the trade was completed, coach Kellen Moore said the move was made because the team needed offensive line depth after Will Clapp’s season-ending injury earlier this month.
Fortner gives the Saints a reliable veteran to back up starting center Erik McCoy. The 2022 third-rounder started every game his first two seasons before he was demoted to a backup role last year.
“We felt like it was an awesome opportunity,” Moore said. “Luke’s done a lot of good things in this league, played a number of snaps, started a number of games. He’s a really smart player, so he gives us some interior depth that we felt like could be very valuable as the season goes."
Moore said it was a funny coincidence that the Saints just happened to be playing the Jaguars, but indicated talks were underway well before the contest took place.
Fortner said he had an idea that a trade was a possibility, though he added he figured it might have come next week when teams have to trim their rosters from 90 to 53 players. The Jaguars drafted a rookie center this offseason, leaving him the odd man out.
“I’m glad I didn’t get too scrappy with anybody (in Sunday's game),” Fortner said. “That was a plus. I didn’t have to come say some sorries or anything, so that was nice.”