Eagles bringing back fan favorite tight end Zach Ertz, AP sources say
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz stands on the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Dec. 7, 2025, in Minneapolis. Credit: AP/Abbie Parr
The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing back fan favorite tight end Zach Ertz, three people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
Ertz will join the practice squad in hopes of shoring up a tight end room depleted by injuries, the people said Monday on condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced.
Ertz's return comes with multiple Eagles tight ends dealing with injuries.
Dallas Goedert is expected to miss several weeks with an MCL sprain suffered in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Tennessee Titans, one person told the AP. Backups Eli Stowers and Grant Calcaterra also are injured.
“We’ll see where he is by the end of the day here,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said of Goedert. “But I love the room. I love where we are in that room. Obviously, we had an injury yesterday with Dallas. Eli is out right now. We’re a little banged up there, as you guys know, but I like the pieces that we have there, and we’ll see where we are with Dallas. I don’t want to go anywhere yet until we figure out some things there.”
Ertz spent his first eight seasons with the Eagles, earning three Pro Bowl appearances, and made two key plays late in their Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots after the 2017 season. He played three seasons for Arizona after being traded in 2021 and spent the last two in Washington.
The 35-year-old suffered a torn ACL with the Commanders in December, but has been cleared to play.
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) is grabbed by Washington Commanders cornerback Darius Rush (29) as he runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Matt Rourke
Ertz is fifth on the NFL's career list for catches by a tight end with 825 and his 8,952 yards receiving are eighth. He's scored 57 touchdowns.
Ertz is 11 receptions away from breaking Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael's franchise record for Philadelphia. Carmichael had 589 catches with the Eagles from 1971-83. Ertz has 579.
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