Zach Ertz is still in Philadelphia, but his next shot at game action is suddenly murky.
The Eagles have already burned through the practice squad elevations they can use on the veteran tight end, leaving his status tied to one move: Philadelphia would have to sign him to the 53-man roster for him to suit up again.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni kept the message controlled Thursday before practice. He praised Ertz, but stopped well short of promising anything.
“Zach’s obviously still here. He’s out of elevations at this particular time,” the head coach said.
“I think Zach’s been having really good practices. There’s things that you can’t predict, but I love having Zach on this football team, and we’ll see as the season progresses.”
Ertz returned to the Eagles on a practice squad deal in late September after injuries and poor production hit the tight end group. He was elevated three times, and in those three games he played, he produced three catches for 22 yards.
That’s where things get tricky. With no more elevations left, Philadelphia has to decide whether Ertz is worth a roster spot or whether his time as a game-day option is on pause.
The roster math is tight, and it may be getting tighter. Grant Calcaterra and Eli Stowers have both had their 21-day practice windows opened while they remain on injured reserve, and both appear positioned ahead of Ertz in the pecking order. Calcaterra is viewed by the coaching staff as an immediate contributor, while Stowers comes with the boost of being the 54th overall pick in April’s draft.
The Eagles’ current tight end group includes Goedert, the most complete player in the room, blocker Johnny Mundt and E.J. Jenkins, who has played a major role on special teams but is expected to be released on Thursday, according to NFL insider Mike Garafolo.
That leaves Philadelphia with a few clear paths: add Ertz to the active roster, keep him on the practice squad without the ability to elevate him for games, or eventually part ways.
The situation could shift again if another tight end goes down or if the Eagles explore a trade involving Goedert, who is playing on an expiring contract and could interest a contender if Philadelphia’s season keeps sliding.
For now, Ertz remains a familiar face in the building. The longtime Eagles tight end, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the heroes of Super Bowl LII, played for Philadelphia from 2013 through the midway point of the 2021 season. He also sits seven catches shy of the franchise record of 589, which belongs to Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael.
“When he’s been in with the ones, he’s had great reps, and when he’s been in with the scout team, he’s given our defense great looks, phenomenal looks,” Sirianni said of Ertz.
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