Howie Roseman release official statement on Zach Ertz trade

Did the Philadelphia Eagles trade Zach Ertz? Reunion speculation begins in Philly

A reunion between the Philadelphia Eagles and franchise great Zach Ertz may not be as meaningless as many think. There’s rarely a dull moment around the NovaCare complex, and Thursday’s curveball came 2,300 miles away in Phoenix. News that veteran Zach Ertz has requested and received his release from the struggling Arizona Cardinals.

According to NFL Media, Ertz agreed to trade playing opportunities with a play-check candidate this week. Ertz, 33, a Pro Bowl running back with the Philadelphia Eagles, remains a heavyweight in the Delaware Valley community and one of the most sought after players in recent franchise history with the NFL’s top team as a potential landing spot. doing it. The 10-1 Eagles are struggling right now.

Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson went to the X for informal confirmation that the idea is definitely alive. But there are obstacles. The first of these is the opt-out process. Philadelphia is ranked 32nd. That means if any of the other 31 teams in the league want to sabotage any chance of a reunion, they can do so. But Ertz believes he can negotiate with potential suitors for two reasons. That’s because of the $2.5 million left on his contract this season and the understanding that he wants to play with a legitimate suitor. Don’t do that. Otherwise, don’t be happy.

However, this does not mean that all branches are directly connected to Philadelphia. Dallas Goedert is currently out with a broken wrist and is expected to miss Sunday’s game against San Francisco, but his return is targeted for the Dec. 10 game against the Dallas Cowboys. Goedert is lobbying to return this week, but told SI.com’s Eagles Today that doctors need four weeks for the bone to heal properly. The TE1 star also mentioned last season when he missed time with a knee sprain. In this case, Goedert was feeling well enough two weeks before his return, but the medical team waited the recommended time for the healing process.

jack ertz

Goedert also noted that the Eagles aren’t fighting for their playoff lives, they’re just trying to make it. For Calcaterra, the second-year TE3 confirmed that the ankle injury he suffered in Kansas City on Nov. 20 was a high ankle sprain. He has already hung up his boots but it will be some time before he is back on the pitch.

Goedert and Calcaterra were ruled out of Wednesday’s practice and did not participate in Thursday’s practice. But both were on the spot. Goedert spent time handling the ball while the team worked individually and Calcaterra worked with trainers alongside linebacker Zach Cunningham, who is expected to miss Sunday’s game with an injury. Right now, Ertz appears to be needed as the Eagles play the 49ers with Jack Stoll, Albert Okwuegbunam and possibly practice squad Noah Togiai.

But in theory, Goedert should be back in Week 14 with Ertz involved, and Calcaterra should soon follow. The depth chart shows Goedert, Stoll and Calcaterra in Philadelphia, but Stoll fits as a solid blocker and Calcaterra has the potential to help on special teams as well.

Ertz’s strengths aren’t on the blocking side and he doesn’t play special teams at this point in his career. Ertz was one of the NFL’s best receivers during the Eagles’ peak in 2018, recording 116 receptions for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns. From 2015 to 2019, he had a career-low 74 receptions for the Eagles. He fell short of Harold Carmichael’s franchise record 10 receptions on 589 catches for 6,267 yards and 38 touchdowns in 123 games with Philadelphia.

In the 2017 postseason, Super Bowl LII, Ertz scored two of the most touchdowns in Eagles history. An 11-yard touchdown reception from midfield with 5:39 left and 2:25 left. He led Philadelphia to its first Lombardi Trophy. That said, Baltimore, which lost forward Mark Andrews to injury this offseason, might be better off if Ertz wants to play a bigger role with a legitimate contender.