There were a lot of things that went wrong for the Washington Commanders in 2025 as they started the season as Super Bowl contenders but stumbled to a 5-12 finish.
One of those things was not veteran tight end Zach Ertz, who has been one of the few consistently excellent roster pieces for the Commanders over the last 2 seasons but has seen his NFL future in limbo following a gruesome, season-ending knee injury in a Week 14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Now, it appears Ertz is going to attempt to return and play a 14th NFL season — whether it’s with the Commanders or not still remains to be seen.
“Three-time Pro Bowl TE Zach Ertz plans to play a 14th NFL season and is expected to be cleared right around Week 1, per sources,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account on Tuesday. “Ertz is 2 months into rehab from a torn ACL. He ranks 5th in catches and 8th in yards among TE in NFL history, including 50-504-4 in 13 games in 2025 … After playing the past two seasons in Washington, Zach Ertz will be a free agent next month.”
There was already speculation Ertz, who played on a series of 1-year contracts for the Commanders in 2024 and 2025, would wind up on another team.
“Ertz, 35, is currently a free agent and is expected to sign with a new team,” Preme Football wrote on its official X account. “Earlier last season, he passed Shannon Sharpe (815) for 5th on the NFL’s all-time receptions list among tight ends.”
Gruesome Injury Put NFL Future in Peril
It was easy to assume Ertz’s NFL career might be over after witnessing the knee injury he suffered via a dirty hit by safety Jay Ward.
“This is a dirty hit by Jay Ward that has left Zach Ertz down on the field and needing assistance from the trainers to leave the field,” Commanders reporter Chad Ryan wrote on X. “No place for this on the football field. Disgusting play.”
Just 1 day after the injury, the Commanders confirmed the worst news possible in regards to Ertz’s knee.
“Commanders veteran TE Zach Ertz did, in fact, suffer a torn ACL, the MRI confirmed,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Monday, December 8. “Brutal, season-ending injury for the 35-year-old.”
One of NFL’s Best Tight Ends for Decade-Plus
Ertz was dominant for almost a decade after the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the second round (No. 35 overall) of the 2012 NFL draft out of Stanford, winning a Super Bowl following the 2017 season. He was also a 3-time Pro Bowler.
In 2018, Ertz set the NFL single season record for tight ends with 116 receptions to go with 1,163 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also owns the NFL record for most career 2-point conversions (7) shared with New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk.
All that being said, Ertz is not even the most accomplished athlete in his own household. His wife, Julie (Johnston) Ertz, was a 2-time All-American at Santa Clara and spent a decade as a midfielder and defender for the U.S. Women’s National Team and helped lead the U.S. to Women’s World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019.
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