The Washington Commanders spent the offseason leaning hard into youth, trimming away a lot of the older, beaten-up pieces and replacing them with draft picks and under-the-radar free agents. That reset pushed several familiar veterans out the door, but it also left a few names still waiting for their next stop. One of them is Zach Ertz, and he could end up facing Washington again sooner than some fans might expect.
Ertz, who turns 36 soon, is still not ready to call it a career. A return to the Philadelphia Eagles remains reportedly “on the table” if their divisional rivals decide they want another offensive option behind Dallas Goedert. That possibility would bring him back to a team where he spent eight and a half seasons, earned three Pro Bowl nods and won Super Bowl LII before later moving on to the Arizona Cardinals and then Washington.
There is still a timing issue, though. Ertz tore his ACL this past December, and he is only nine months removed from that injury.
That makes a Week 1 appearance against the Commanders in Philadelphia a slim possibility at best, assuming he is even signed in time. Washington’s trip to Philadelphia at the start of November is another possible reunion point if he lands back with the Eagles.
For the Commanders, though, the bigger question was always how to move forward without him. Ertz had become a key piece of Jayden Daniels’ passing game, working as a reliable first-down target and giving Washington steady production over 30 regular-season games.
He finished that stretch with 1,158 yards on 10.0 yards per catch, then played a major role in the Commanders’ 2024 playoff run to the NFC Championship Game. In that postseason push, he drew a postseason-high 25 targets and added one more touchdown to the 11 he scored during the regular season.
With his age and injury history, Ertz was never going to be the long-term answer. Washington needed someone who fit Daniels’ timeline better, while still giving the offense a trustworthy presence at tight end alongside John Bates, Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff.
That opening belongs to Chig Okonkwo, a former University of Maryland standout who now gets a chance to move up in Washington’s passing hierarchy. Unlike what he dealt with in Tennessee, he’ll have Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs drawing attention on the outside, which should create more room for him underneath and after the catch. The Commanders are betting that his speed and athleticism can produce more YAC than Ertz was able to generate in his later years in Washington.
Okonkwo’s arrival gives Washington a younger option at a position that had been anchored by an older veteran. Ertz was dependable and knew exactly where to be when Daniels needed him, but the Commanders clearly decided that the next phase of the offense required a different kind of tight end. If Ertz does circle back with Philadelphia, he could still cross paths with Washington before long - and this time, it would be as the opponent.
In Other News...
Commanders Face One Big Week 1 Problem Before Brutal Start
The early stretch of Washingtons 2026 schedule leaves little room for easing in, and the Commanders are already dealing with a familiar kind of September concern: availability. They open on the road against Philadelphia and Dallas, and the injury list has already taken a bite out of both lines, with star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Johnny Newton sidelined for now.
There is some good news in the recent return of several key players to practice, including Daron Payne, Marcus Mariota, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and KLavon Chaisson. Odafe Oweh is also working back from a calf injury and is expected to be close to full practice soon, which gives Washington at least some hope that the defense can get healthier before the opener. What matters next is whether that progress comes fast enough to steady a team facing one of the leagues toughest starts right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Kicking Battle Just Brought A Tough Roster Decision
The Commanders kicking competition ended with a notable shake-up in camp, as undrafted rookie Drew Stevens won the job and pushed incumbent Jake Moody off the roster. It is the sort of decision teams hope to avoid late in the summer, but Washington clearly decided the rookie had earned the chance, giving Stevens one of the 32 NFL roster spots available to kickers.
Moody has since landed on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, while Stevens is left to savor a path that once began as a preferred walk-on in college. For a young specialist, making an NFL roster is a hard climb under any circumstances, and Stevens described the moment as a chance he is grateful to have, even as the real test of his NFL future is only beginning. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Rookies Are Forcing A Bigger Week 1 Debate Than Expected
Training camp has given Washington a clearer look at its 2023 draft class, and it has also created a real conversation about how soon some of those rookies might matter. Linebacker Sonny Styles, wide receiver Antonio Williams, edge rusher Joshua Josephs and running back Kaytron Allen have all spent the summer trying to carve out roles, with the staff sorting through different levels of progress as preseason work continues.
What makes the evaluation interesting is that this does not look like a class destined for one simple label. Some of the rookies appear better suited to immediate contributions, while others may need more time before they fit into the regular-season plan, and those distinctions can shift quickly once the games start counting. For Washington, the Week 1 picture is still taking shape, and the rookies are pushing to make it a tougher decision than expected. [Read more 🡒]