Zach Ertz’s 13th NFL season ended when he tore his ACL, but he reportedly doesn’t plan on the injury being the end of his playing career.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Ertz plans to play in 2026. He is currently rehabbing his injury and, per the report, expects to be cleared for full activity a some point around the start of the regular season.
Ertz’s desire to play is only one part of the equation for getting him on the field for a 14th season. His contract with the Commanders is up, which means he’ll become a free agent in March unless he re-signs with the team in the next few weeks.
Ertz caught 50 passes for 504 yards and a touchdown in 13 games before tearing his ACL last year. He ranks 37th in NFL history with 825 catches.
The Commanders are holding onto one of their top reserve offensive linemen.
They have agreed to a new deal with Andrew Wylie, who was set to become a free agent. Multiple reporters confirmed a report by Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team that the deal is for two years and is worth $7.5 million with an upside of $10.5 million.
Wylie started 29 games for the Commanders over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but only started five of his 16 appearances during the 2025 season. He spent his first five seasons in Kansas City and started 59 games during his time with the Chiefs.
Left guard Chris Paul is still set for free agency in Washington. Backups Trent Scott, George Fant, and Lucas Niang also do not have contracts for 2026.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has played two games in Philadelphia in his NFL career, losing both. He thinks there’s no tougher place in the NFL to play.
Daniels said in an interview with Sports Illustrated that the fans in Philadelphia deserve credit for the passion they bring, which only makes it harder on opposing quarterbacks.
“I love Eagles fans. I love Eagles fans,” Daniels said. “They just embody what Philly brings. To be able to go out there and play against them, it’s kind of just that thing. Their environment is kind of like the closest thing you can get to a college environment.”
Asked if the fans in Philadelphia give him more fuel, Daniels answered, “For sure.”
“If you go out there, you can beat Philly in Philly, that’s a different type, but their fans bring it,” Daniels said. “Especially as we’re rivals with them in the NFC East. I love playing against them.”
Winning in Philadelphia is high on Daniels’ list of goals for 2026.
Former NFL offensive lineman Tre’ Johnson has died. He was 54.
Via ESPN.com, Johnson’s wife announced his passing in a Facebook post.
“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my husband, Tre’ Johnson, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly ... during a brief family trip,” Irene Johnson wrote. “His four children, Chloe, EJ, EZ and Eden, extended family, friends, and I are devastated and in shock.”
A second-round pick of Washington in 1994, Johnson spent nine seasons in the NFL. He played his first seven years with Washington and one with the Browns before returning to Washington for 2002, his last year in the league.
In 1999, Johnson was a Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro. He appeared in 93 regular-season games with 72 starts.
We extend our condolences to Johnson’s family, friends, teammates, and colleagues.
On March 21, a delegation led by Tom Brady will stage a flag-football tournament in Saudi Arabia. Multiple NFL players will be participating.
As Brady tells it, it’s not going to be an exhibition or a publicity stunt.
“Honestly, this is, like, real football,” Brady recently said in an appearance on the Impaulsive podcast. “This is real competition.”
The conversation between Brady and Logan Paul seemed to be a fairly basic effort to hype the event by talking shit. Still, Brady’s comments shouldn’t be ignored, as it relates to the potential intensity of the game.
“I’m glad you’re gonna be there,” Brady told Paul, “and I’m glad you’re finally gonna participate in, like, a competition that matters.”
Paul then compared the game to the Pro Bowl. “It’s gonna be way better than that,” Brady said.
In reposting the clip, Brady said this: “I hope people understand the level of competition this game is going to be. If you’re on my team you’re going to be locked in, all out, and we’re going to not just win... but dominate.”
The NFL players, who surely had a hard time saying no to the multi-zero check they’ll be getting, may not have gotten the memo that they’re going to be expected to “be locked in” and go “all out.” There’s an injury risk to any type of football. The more “real” the football and the more “real” the competition, the greater the chance that someone is going to get hurt.
Possibly for that reason, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels — who has been announced as one of the quarterbacks for the tournament — was equivocal when the topic came up during a recent visit to PFT Live.
“I don’t know yet,” Daniels said regarding whether he’ll be making the trip.
Daniels, of all potential players in the game, has the most to lose. Injuries limited him to seven games in 2025. He needs to be as healthy as possible for 2026, the last year before he’s eligible for a market-level second contract.
Yes, insurance is available for the players who will be participating in an event that jeopardizes their 2026 salaries, if they’re hurt while playing. (And if you think injuries during flag football don’t happen, we give you Robert Edwards.) But it’s one thing for Daniels to get his full $4.226 million salary for 2026 if he’s injured while playing flag football. It’s quite another for Daniels to miss playing time this year because of an injury that happens during an activity unrelated to his job.
It’s our understanding that the Commanders and all other teams whose players are going to Saudi Arabia are supporting the effort, in part because they feel compelled both to let their players get an extra bag and to defer to the league’s ongoing effort to make flag football a thing.
But Daniels said it himself: “I don’t know yet.”
After seeing Brady’s comments regarding how “real” the game will be, Daniels may quickly know what he’s going to do.
