JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Khalen Saunders was playing Fortnite with friends at home Sunday evening when New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore called to deliver the trade news.
“Where to?” Saunders replied.
Jacksonville.
“The (team) we just played?” Saunders added. “It was a surprise.”
The postgame deal sent Saunders, a two-time Super Bowl champion nose tackle with Kansas City, to the Jaguars in exchange for backup center Luke Fortner. The trade had been in the works for days, long before the teams played to a 17-all tie in the Superdome on Sunday. Jacksonville had been looking to strengthen its defensive front while New Orleans was in the market for offensive line depth.
Now both players are getting a fresh start with a much better chance of making an opening-day roster.
“It was almost instantaneous the joy that came in,” Saunders said. “It’s fast moving, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Fortner was on a charter bus from the airport to team headquarters in Jacksonville on Sunday evening when he found out about the deal.
“I got on a flight the next day and here I am,” Fortner said after practicing with his new team Tuesday. “I’m glad I didn’t get too scrapy with anybody (in New Orleans on Sunday). So, that was a plus.”
Saunders was one of three defensive additions for the Jaguars on Tuesday. Defensive tackles Arik Armstead (back) and Maason Smith (calf) practiced with the team for the first time since training camp opened.
“Both guys have done everything they can in order to get on the grass,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said. “To see them out there is a great sign. … Both guys have done nothing but worked their tails off to get back. Pleased about that progress for sure.”
Armstead, Smith and Saunders are expected to play in Jacksonville’s preseason finale at Miami on Saturday, although it likely hinges on how much work they get during a joint practice with the Dolphins on Thursday.
Coen already has a good feeling about what to expect from the 324-pound run-stopper, having watched Saunders twice last season while he was Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator.
“A guy that … I’ve got respect for as a vet that’s played a lot of meaningful down in this league, has won Super Bowls, has been on teams that know how to win and there’s no question he can help up in the middle there at times,” Coen said.
“He’s hard to double-team and move in there at times and also has some ability to kind of redirect and has some initial (quickness), so I do believe he’ll help add some meaningful competition and depth in that room.”
Saunders started 27 games for the Saints over the last two seasons after a four-year stint in Kansas City. He became expendable after the Saints switched to a 3-4 defense under coordinator Brandon Staley and acquired nose tackle Davon Godchaux in a trade with New England.
Fortner, a third-round draft pick from Kentucky in 2022, started 34 games for Jacksonville during his first two seasons. But he was benched in favor of veteran Mitch Morse last year and was considered a long shot to make Jacksonville’s roster behind Robert Hainsey and rookie Jonah Monheim.
“I think he's going to be able to take over that spot," Fortner said of Monheim. "So, I think (the Jaguars) saw an opportunity (to make a deal) and took it.”
New Orleans was seeking depth after projected starting guard Trever Penning injured a foot in the club's preseason opener and could miss regular-season games.
Saunders, a third-round draft pick in 2019, has 181 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks in 68 career games. He's expected to slot in as a backup to DaVon Hamilton on Jacksonville's depth chart.
Saunders arrived in town midday Monday, meet his new teammates and then spent several hours with coaches learning the defense.
“He brings a lot of experience, a lot of good depth and we’re lucky to have him,” defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said.
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AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed.
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Mark Long, The Associated Press
