The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed Zach Ertz earlier this week! I think it’s a good move. Here are some reasons why.
1) The nostalgia factor.
Let me be clear: this signing wasn’t JUST a nostalgia play. But it is hard to deny it’s a nice bonus.
Ertz is an Eagles legend.
Among many other highlights, he caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LII.
He’s expressed a lot of love for Philly, which has been reflected through his charity work in the community that continued even after he was traded away.
Many an Eagles fan can
now break out their old No. 86 jerseys. That’s pretty cool.
2) The Eagles needed tight end help.
With Dallas Goedert reportedly expected to miss some time due to a knee injury, the team had no choice but to add to the tight end room.
Johnny Mundt averages about five receiving yards per game over the course of his career. E.J. Jenkins has flashed pass-catching ability in practice settings but he has two career targets for one reception that went for seven yards (and a touchdown!).
Grant Calcaterra and Eli Stowers can’t be activated from injured reserve until Week 5. It’s hard to feel great about them as major contributors even when they’re ready to return.
The Eagles needed to add a more serious pass-catching threat. Ertz is just that.
3) He can still play!
At least, there’s reason to be optimistic about his outlook.
Ertz had a pretty nice season for the Washington Commanders in 2024, logging 66 receptions for 654 yards, 51 first downs, and seven touchdowns. For context (not comparison), the last time Goedert had 66 receptions was … never. Goedert has also never produced that many first downs in a given season. And the last time Goedert surpassed Ertz’s 2024 yardage total was when he had 702 in 2022.
Ertz was the best thing the Commanders had going for them in Washington’s 55 to 23 loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. His team-high 16 targets produced 11 receptions for 104 yards that day.
Ertz looked good again in 2025. His 72 targets produced 50 receptions for 504 yards, 25 first downs, and four touchdowns prior to suffering a torn ACL in early December 2025.
Now, I can’t say I know the kind of toll this injury took on him. Maybe it severely impacted Ertz, who turns 36 in November, moving forward. But it’s not like ACL injuries are the death knells they used to be. And it’s not like Ertz’s game was ever predicated on elite athleticism.
Ertz has been a really good tight end in the NFL because he knows how to get open. He’s a very smart player who can exploit how defenses try to guard him. This play style has translated well as he’s aged. I expect him to still be able to be effective.
4) He has chemistry with Jalen Hurts.
Ertz hasn’t logged catches from Hurts since October 2021. But the two did work together for a time after the Eagles selected Hurts in the 2020 NFL Draft.
From 2020-2021, Hurts targeted Ertz 53 times for 28 receptions, 299 yards, 13 first downs, and two touchdowns.
Trust is big factor with any quarterback and his targets … but arguably especially so with Hurts. It shouldn’t take too long for the two to get back on the same page.
Which is important, because the Eagles will be counting on Ertz to see targets as soon as Week 3 against the Chicago Bears.
5) He could help the Eagles shift their offensive approach.
Perhaps this is wishcasting.
But the Eagles’ current offensive approach is frustrating. Unable to run the ball efficiently behind a struggling offensive line, they’re wasting early downs by insisting to slam into a brick wall over and over.
Look at this first down futility:
Part of these struggles are due to a lack of actively trying to get a first down on first down.
Case in point: it took until midway through the third quarter of their second game for the Eagles to even ATTEMPT A PASS BEYOND THE STICKS while on first down (this play).
So, how does Ertz factor in here?
The Eagles need to be honest with themselves about where their running game is at right now. Maybe it’ll improve down the line. For now, though, their strength is throwing the ball. Hurts looks great. The wide receivers are inspiring confidence. The offense should be leaning into their passing attack.
Ertz can be one of the targets to help contribute to this approach. Also, if Nick Sirianni and Sean Mannion are truly as insistent on “staying on schedule” by getting to third-and-manageable as they purport to be, they can sub out ineffective running plays with short targets to Ertz that are likely to be more fruitful.
6) An Eagles franchise record is within reach.
No player has logged more receptions for the Eagles than Harold Carmichael, who has 589.
Ertz is currently 10 behind him.
Assuming he stays healthy, Ertz is very likely going to at least get 11 catches to become the new franchise leader.
Other benchmarks of note:
- Ertz is also only 197 yards away from tying Mike Quick for fourth in Eagles franchise history for receiving yards. He’s 245 away from tying DeSean Jackson. He could feasibly move above those two to only be behind Carmichael at the top and Pete Retzlaff in second place.
- If Ertz plays in all 15 remaining regular season games, he’ll move to sole possession of the 24th-most games ever played for the Eagles.
