Zach Ertz has quiet two-catch outing vs. Rams

That leaves Goedert extremely likely to miss his second consecutive contest when the Eagles host the Rams this Sunday. Zach Ertz was Goedert’s feel-good Week 3 fill-in, but Ertz’s 38 percent snap share ended up producing one catch on two targets. With this entire offense looking rather sluggish at the moment, Ertz does not have TE2 streamer appeal.

Ertz saw his snaps managed after both signing with the team Tuesday and returning from a torn ACL suffered in 2025, grabbing one of two targets in his first game in an Eagles uniform since 2021. There is very little fantasy upside here even as Dallas Goedert nurses an MCL sprain. Ertz can safely be left on the waiver wire.

Ertz makes for a dicey starting option in season-long leagues, but he’s stuck around this long for a reason. It stands to reason that the Eagles will keep him on a snap count, but if he’s feeling good in-game, they could allow him to get a little extra action.

The veteran tight end is reportedly healthy enough following ACL surgery to be brought in as a replacement for Dallas Goedert, the latter of whom is expected to miss multiple weeks with a sprained MCL. Ertz spent the first seven seasons of his professional career in Philadelphia before a three-year stint with the Cardinals and two more with the Commanders. The 12-year veteran turns 36 in November and profiles as a low-upside role player for as long as Goedert remains out, should he receive game-day call-ups from the practice squad.

Ertz is on the mend after tearing his ACL last year. While nothing is imminent, Ertz could make sense for the Eagles current tight end room. Philadelphia is lacking in legitimate receiving options behind Dallas Goedart despite keeping four tight ends on their initial 53-man roster. Ertz turns 36 in November and is unlikely to be a fantasy factor at this point in his career, but could still be an upgrade on the Eagles’ current tight end depth.

Ertz tore his ACL in Week 14 last season with the Commanders. Schefter reports the 35-year-old is ready for football activities and was catching passes from Andrew Luck at Stanford on Tuesday. He caught 50 passes for 504 yards and four touchdowns last season, seeing at least 70 targets in each of the last two seasons with the Commanders. Ertz has expressed a desire to continue playing and Schefter reports the veteran is “expected to be ready to sign in mid-August.” His top-15 fantasy tight end days are behind him, but Ertz can certainly offer some help in the tight end landscape this season, pending his landing spot.

Ertz suffered a torn ACL in Week 14 of last season. Now nearly six months removed from his surgery, the 35-year-old free agent is continuing to rehab in hopes of returning for at least one more season. In his second season with the Commanders, Ertz totaled 50 receptions for 504 yards and four touchdowns and posted a 116-1,158-11 line in his two seasons with the team. While a return to Washington seems unlikely at this point, when healthy, Ertz should have a little bit of a market for teams in need of help at the position. Even if he does land somewhere, it’s hard to imagine Ertz having any real fantasy upside beyond that of a matchup based streaming option.

Ertz may not be 100 percent by September, but perhaps he’ll be a midseason reinforcement somewhere. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said “you never know” when asked about Ertz returning behind Dallas Goedert. The Commanders also reportedly haven’t ruled out bringing him back.

The 35-year-old was injured in early December. Ertz had already become a catch-and-fall specialist even before his injury, but he has maintained a route-running savvy and strong pair of hands. His injury timeline makes him a tricky bet early in free agency, perhaps making it more likely he holds out for more guaranteed money on the eve of training camp. By then, teams will have a better idea of his health, as well as their own needs.

Likely, an unrestricted free agent, could see interest from multiple teams this spring, including the Commanders, who are likely to move on from veteran TE Zach Ertz after his catastrophic knee injury in 2025. “Likely would bring more upside with his catch-and-run ability. A move player in the formation, Likely would also be schemed to create underneath one-on-ones,” Bowen said. In his four seasons with the Ravens, Likely popped off a few times in a run-heavy offense, usually when Mark Andrews was sidelined. Likely since the start of the 2024 season ranks fourth among all tight ends in ESPN’s open score, which measures a player’s ability to separate from defenders. He would be an intriguing fantasy option as an every-down player in Washington.