Zach Ertz is back where his NFL story started, and he’s not hiding how much that means to him.
The former Washington Commanders tight end signed with the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad this week, putting him in position to return to the field with the franchise where he spent the first 8.5 seasons of his 13-year career. With the Eagles set to face the Chicago Bears on Monday night and starting tight end Dallas Goedert out, Ertz could be elevated for the game.
For Ertz, this isn’t just another stop. It’s home.
“There was never a plan to come back,” Ertz said. “Obviously, I never wanted to leave in the first place, so let’s just put that out there.
The opportunity finally arose where I could come back. There’s been times I asked in the past to come back, and it didn’t come to fruition for whatever reason.
But for me, it’s just a blessing to be back.
If you told me when I got hurt that I’d be back here in nine and a half months practicing for the Philadelphia Eagles, you could have signed me up then. For me, this is a place I always called home. This is the place where, if anyone asks my favorite place to play, everyone knows it’s here.”
Ertz turns 36 in November and spent the past two seasons with Washington. He tore his ACL in a game against the Minnesota Vikings last December, but instead of letting that be the final chapter, he worked toward one more run on his own terms.
During his two years with the Commanders, Ertz started 30 games and posted 116 catches for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also played a major role in Washington’s 2024 playoff push and was one of the team’s leaders.
His NFL résumé now stretches across 13 seasons, with 825 receptions, 8,592 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns. Ertz was also part of Philadelphia’s first Super Bowl title in 2017, a run capped by his go-ahead touchdown catch in the win over the New England Patriots.
The Commanders and Eagles already met in Week. They’ll see each other again on Nov. 1, when Philadelphia visits Washington for Sunday Night Football.
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