Zach Ertz returns to Philadelphia Eagles with Dallas Goedert expected to miss time with injury, reports say
Zach Ertz is returning to where it all started. With tight end Dallas Goedert expected to miss a few weeks with an MCL sprain, Ertz is signing to the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad, ESPN reported Monday.
Zach Ertz returning to Eagles after Dallas Goedert injury
Ertz, who played the last two seasons with the Washington Commanders, spent nine years with the Eagles, where he helped the team win the franchise's first Super Bowl in the 2017 season over the New England Patriots.
Last season, the 35-year-old had 50 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. He suffered a torn ACL last December in a game against the Minnesota Vikings, which ended his season.
Ertz made three Pro Bowls in his nine years with the Eagles. He returns to Philly only needing 11 catches to break Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael's franchise record of 589 catches. He also ranks fifth all-time in Eagles history with 6,267 receiving yards, trailing only Carmichael, Pete Retzlaff, DeSean Jackson and Mike Quick.
Before the 2026 season in August, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was asked about a potential Ertz reunion.
"First, I'd say what an unbelievable player, what an unbelievable person, tremendous respect for him," Roseman said. "At the same time, love what we have going in our tight end room, too. I would say, have talked to Zach over a period of time, obviously rehabbing his ACL and the relationship, just like a lot of our former players who've been here.
"In my opinion, one of the greatest tight ends to play the game and just tremendous respect for him, and also excited about the tight ends that we have here."
When Ertz was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in the 2021 season, he was emotional and called the city of Philadelphia "home."
"This is home. Philadelphia is home," Ertz said after the trade in 2021. "And that was tough to articulate to people, that I love this place, I've said it all along. It's a great opportunity to be here and I loved it here. I did the best I could every day and I can leave knowing that and this isn't going to be the last you're going to see of me in this city."
Years later, Ertz, who was picked by the Eagles in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, will now have a chance to become Philadelphia's all-time receptions leader.
What to know about Dallas Goedert's injury
Goedert suffered the reported MCL sprain in the first half of Philadelphia's Week 2 comeback 24-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. He never returned and finished the game with one catch for 4 yards and two targets.
In last week's regular season opener against the Washington Commanders, Goedert had a huge game with four catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
Goedert is the third Eagles tight end to suffer an injury in the 2026 season. Rookie Eli Stowers and Grant Calcaterra are both currently on injured reserve.
The only healthy tight ends on the Eagles' roster are Johnny Mundt and E.J. Jenkins.
