Eagles

Obligatory “Should the Eagles Bring Back Zach Ertz?” Post

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Nov 30th, 2023 · 2:18 PM EST

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NFL Insider J.J. Watt:

Trying new things in retirement, so let’s steal @AdamSchefter job for a day…

TE Zach Ertz has requested & been granted his release from the Arizona Cardinals.

The 3-Time Pro Bowler plans to sign with a contender and make a run at his 2nd Super Bowl ring.

(This is easy Adam) pic.twitter.com/pK4qCcCfay

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) November 30, 2023

Are the Eagles going to sign Darius Leonard and Zach Ertz over the next 48 hours? Should they do it?

It’s the obligatory Zach Ertz post. There’s always a lot of sentimentality with these types of things. You have a connection to a guy who helped win this franchise its first Super Bowl. Everybody likes the feel good story. You just have to ask yourself if you’re risking another DeSean Jackson redux, where you get injury problems and not much on-field contribution.

Ertz turned 33 earlier this month. He’s had knee and quad injuries over the past two seasons. Since leaving Philadelphia via trade, he’s done the following with Arizona:

• 2021: 11 games, 56 receptions, 574 yards, 3 touchdowns
• 2022: 10 games, 47 receptions, 406 yards, 4 touchdowns
• 2023: 7 games, 27 receptions, 187 yards, 1 touchdown

On one hand, he hasn’t been lighting the world on fire. On the other hand, the Cardinals totally stink, so it’s hard to tell where he actually lands on the washed spectrum.

If Dallas Goedert was out for the year or on IR, this would probably be a no-brainer. But TE1 is coming back sooner rather than later. Same with Grant Calcaterra. But what’s Ertz’s value compared to the backups? Certainly he’s better than Calcaterra, Jack Stoll, and Albert O, even at age 33 and on the downslope of his career. That doesn’t mean he’s gonna come in on short notice and light up Dallas, but you could do worse.

Make the phone call Howie!