Zach Ertz signs with Eagles practice squad after Goedert injury

Nine months after tearing his ACL and 5 years after he last wore an Eagles uniform, Zach Ertz is headed back to Philadelphia. Adam Schefter reported the Eagles are signing the 3-time Pro Bowler to their practice squad, with Dallas Goedert sidelined by a sprained MCL and the team suddenly thin at tight end.

Adam Schefter

@AdamSchefter

Three-time Pro-Bowl tight end Zach Ertz, who played in Philadelphia from 2013-‘21 and helped the team win its first Super Bowl, is returning to the city and signing with the Eagles practice squad, per sources. The Eagles lost TE Dallas Goedert to a sprained MCL and now are turning to Ertz, who spent the past two seasons in Washington.

This isn't just a name the front office plucked off the street. Ertz spent 2013-2021 in Philly, was part of the locker room that broke the franchise's Super Bowl drought, and caught the game-winning 4th-down touchdown that sealed Super Bowl LII. According to Mike Garafolo, the two sides never really lost touch — he and the Eagles stayed in contact all summer, and the injury math finally made a reunion make sense with Goedert down and both Eli Stowers and Grant Calcaterra also hurt at the position.

Mike Garafolo

@MikeGarafolo

A reunion in Philly. The #Eagles and Zach Ertz remained in contact through the summer. With Dallas Goedert, Eli Stowers and Grant Calcaterra injured, Ertz makes his return.

Adam Schefter

@AdamSchefter

Three-time Pro-Bowl tight end Zach Ertz, who played in Philadelphia from 2013-‘21 and helped the team win its first Super Bowl, is returning to the city and signing with the Eagles practice squad, per sources. The Eagles lost TE Dallas Goedert to a sprained MCL and now are turning to Ertz, who spent the past two seasons in Washington.

The practice squad designation is really a formality. Tom Pelissero reported Ertz is expecting to be elevated to the 53-man roster and suit up Monday night against the Bears — as soon as this weekend, essentially, depending on how the paperwork shakes out.

Tom Pelissero

@TomPelissero

The Eagles are signing Zach Ertz to the practice squad, source said. But he’s expecting to be promoted and play Monday night against the Bears.

Adam Schefter

@AdamSchefter

Three-time Pro-Bowl tight end Zach Ertz, who played in Philadelphia from 2013-‘21 and helped the team win its first Super Bowl, is returning to the city and signing with the Eagles practice squad, per sources. The Eagles lost TE Dallas Goedert to a sprained MCL and now are turning to Ertz, who spent the past two seasons in Washington.

There's a personal angle here too. Jeff McLane spent time with Ertz in Scottsdale back in April while he rehabbed the torn ACL he suffered last December, and Ertz didn't hide how he felt about a return: "I think everyone knows how I feel about that place, that city, in particular. I loved it, loved it. And I wouldn't close that door." McLane also reported Ertz was cleared for football activity in July and has now cleared the 9-month post-op mark, with the plan being a practice squad stint that leads to a 53-man roster spot as he continues to build back.

There's a stat line attached to the sentiment, too. Ertz needs just 11 more catches to pass Harold Carmichael's 589 and become the franchise's all-time leader in receptions — a number he was 8 catches short of finishing off before Washington entered the picture 2 years ago. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie told McLane back in the spring he'd love to see Ertz get that record, "but not at the expense of what we need to do." Now, with the tight end room gutted by injuries, wanting Ertz on the field and needing him on the field just became the same thing.