The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing back one of the best players in their franchise history.
Veteran tight end Zach Ertz is signing with the Eagles' practice squad ahead of Week 3, according to multiple reports on Monday, Sept. 21. He could make his debut with the active roster as soon as next week against the Chicago Bears on "Monday Night Football," Tom Pelissero of Netflix and The Ringer reported
.The 13-year NFL veteran is coming off two solid seasons with the Washington Commanders. He's also returning from an ACL tear he sustained in December of last year. Ertz was a free agent after 2025 and had remained unsigned while working his way back from last year's injury until two weeks into the 2026 season.
Now, Ertz is set to fill in for his
former protégé and eventual replacement in Philly: tight end Dallas Goedert, who suffered a sprained MCL in Week 2. Philadelphia is also missing rookie tight end Eli Stowers, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Ertz, 35, began his career with the Eagles as a second-round pick in 2013. That was the first of nine seasons in an initial stint in Philadelphia that included three Pro Bowl nods and a Super Bowl 52 championship.
He enters his second stint with the team second on the Eagles' franchise receptions leaderboard (579). The tight end needs just 11 more catches to stand alone at the top. He's also fifth in team history with 6,267 receiving yards and seventh all-time with 38 touchdown catches.
Here's a look at Ertz's career by the numbers, as well as contract details for his new deal with his original team:
Zach Ertz stats
2025:
- Games (starts): 13 (13)
- Targets: 72
- Receptions: 50
- Receiving yards: 504
- Yards per catch: 10.1
- Touchdowns: 4
First Eagles stint:
- Games (starts): 123 (85)
- Targets: 868
- Receptions: 579
- Receiving yards: 6,267
- Yards per catch: 10.8
- Touchdowns: 38
Career:
- Games (starts): 181 (143)
- Targets: 1,224
- Receptions: 825
- Receiving yards: 8,592
- Yards per catch: 10.4
- Touchdowns: 57
Zach Ertz contract details
- Term: One year
- Total value: TBA
- AAV: TBA
Ertz's full contract details are still to be announced, though reports indicate he is being signed to the practice squad. Pelissero reported that he's expected to be elevated to the active roster for Week 3's "Monday Night Football" game against the Chicago Bears.
Ertz tore his ACL in December, and he was still a free agent two weeks into the season. Reports that the Eagles were signing him to their practice squad on Monday, Sept. 21 mark the start a second stint in Philadelphia for the 35-year-old. Ertz began his career playing nine years with the Eagles starting in 2013.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eagles bring back veteran tight end with practice squad contract
