The thought crossed Zach Ertz’s mind late in 2023 when he was out of football a year removed from knee surgery. He wasn’t ready to retire, but he was worried about something.
“Still the same player?” he asked himself.
Eretz not only was himself, he is now one step away from playing in another tournament.
The tough veteran finally returns to Philadelphia this weekend to face the Eagles in the NFC title game (noon et on Fox and the Fox Sports app) as a key member of the Washington Commanders’ Rounder’s Scoring Deling. Either Ertz or the team he spent his first 8 and a half NFL seasons with also goes to the Super Bowl.
“When the whistle blows, it’s not going to be the nine years I had there; it’s going to be about trying to make as many plays as possible,” Ertz said this week. “But I’m not going out there with a chip on my shoulder or trying to prove people x, y or z. I’m just trying to go out there and be the best kind.”
Eretz, 34, has been the Darn Full version of himself for the past few months, deepening his love for football while playing for coach Dan Quinn and Coresung Coordinator Klingsbury, whom he knew from his time with Arizona. Oh, and alongside rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, too.
“Obviously, playing with a quarterback like Jayden helped a ton,” Ertz said.
Daniels is the only one targeted. The two combined for 51 touchdowns and one point over the first two games of the playoffs.
“Obviously, a tight end can be a quarterback’s best friend,” Daniels said. “He’s seen a lot of football in this league, so (it’s been good) just to be able to lean on him in some situations and kind of pick his brain.”
That same brain was affected by what was to come after Ertz tore multiple ligaments on his left side during a game in 2022. Following the trade in his first season with the Cardinals, Kingbury coached them.
Turns out it was Ertz’s last full season in the desert. Kingsbury was fired for the previous offsuasion, and the new regime fired Ertz in November 2023
“I didn’t really know what the future held,” Ertz said. “I didn’t know if I was going to be done after I didn’t last long last year. And I got opportunities to play, but it wasn’t the right opportunity.”
The right opportunity came in March after months of working with longtime coach Shannon Turley, and new general manager Adam Petros to hire Quinn and bring him to Kingbury to continue the offense. Another was the renewal of the work.
“It was really an opportunity for me to fall in love with the game again, I was like, and actually enjoy the process again and just be the people that know it,” Ertz said. “Exceeded all expectations.”
[Read more: Who are the 10 best players in Commanders-Eagles NFC Championship Game?]
Washington exceeded expectations by going 12-5 in the regular season and swept Tampa Bay and Detroit to play for the conference championship for the first time in 33 years. Ertz is one of only five players on the roster that survived a Super Bowl Run back then.
A few gray hairs never seen by teammates, Ertz was happy and signed another rider.
“He has the experience of a veteran in high-level situations, and he does a good job, I think just coming and showing the younger ones the ropes and how they can be a true professional,” four years of how strong End John Bates said. “Hey [has] he’s been a reliable target for us in the passing game and he’s gotten into every situation we’ve needed him to and made big plays. “
Eretz, a three-time bowl pick during his time with the Eagles, including 2017 when he helped them win their first bowl, knows he doesn’t play in 90% of the clothes he did. But success these days is less about volume and more about consistency, and Ertz has always been Daniels’ safety valve.
“I know the red zone and youdi three and two minutes [drills] it could be something, “said Quinn.” And you pass those and keep walking. “
Ertz had only 18 tackles in six games for Philadelphia in 2021, Nick Sirianni’s first as a coach, before being traded to Arizona. The two names were exchanged after the manager beat the Eagles on December 22 in the club’s second meeting of the season before clearing the air.
“Zach and I are good,” Siriaanni said. “We talked after that night, we had a good laugh. I was impressed with all the plays he made. … he’s playing really good football. He was a good target for this team on third down and doing all the things I remember him being able to do at the highest level.”
When Daniels was at Arizona State before transferring to LSU, where he won the Heisman trophy last season, Ertz spent a little time with QB Jalen in the weight room.
“He works very hard (with) his work ethic and he’s always taken care of his body,” Ertz said. “He’s had a very long and very good career. He still has an impact playing big-time football.”
Ertz received a standing ovation in November for his first game back at Lincoln Financial Center and he understands he won’t be the same “because he has so much.” He and wife Julie’s Ertz Family Foundation still work in the city still love him – and he’s glad he got some emotional restitution on the way before the fall.
“I understand that nature will be there,” Ertz said. “Everybody knows how I feel about that building, the people in that building, the people in that community.”
Those in the Washington Burgundy crowd will be rooting for him, as they have since Ertz’s return.
“I just wanted a chance to get out here and prove that I’m still the same person,” he said. “It was great to be able to go out there and make plays for this team.”
Reporting by the Associated Press.
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