Zach Ertz was ‘nervous’ for his first practice back with the Eagles. The next stage of his football life is underway.
Ertz's first practice with the Eagles since 2021 brought with it some emotions and a desire to contribute to a team that needs him.
Zach Ertz has played 181 career regular season NFL games and another 11 in the playoffs. He has made three Pro Bowl teams and has 57 career touchdowns. He is 35 years old and 13 years removed from being a rookie second-round pick with the Eagles.
But he experienced something a little bit different on Thursday.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been more nervous for a walkthrough than today,” Ertz said after his first practice back with the Eagles, who signed him to their practice squad earlier this week. “Obviously the past nine-and-a-half months have been tough. A lot of emotions going through today, a lot of prayers going through today, just to try to center myself.”
The knee injury that ended his 2025 season could have ended his career. There were times he thought it would. Call Thursday, then, the first day of what could be the last stage of his NFL career.
There was a full-circle feel to it. Ertz said it was “special” to be back on a practice field with Lane Johnson, whom the Eagles selected a round earlier than Ertz in 2013. He’s probably a little envious of Johnson, who still is with the Eagles without any detours to Arizona and Washington. Ertz reiterated Thursday that he never wanted to leave.
“This is a place that I’ve always called home,” he said. “This is a place that when everyone asks where my favorite place to play is, everyone knows it’s here. There are so many memories when you’re in a place for nine years so it’s special to be back.”
He reconnected with Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman. He liked the expanded locker room and the bigger training room. He also caught up with cafeteria staff and others in the building.
Ertz and his wife, Julie, left here five years ago childless. He returns now as the father of three boys and armed with new perspective. His football future was up unknown after his injury, but he told himself he wanted to give himself every chance he could to play football again, in part because he wanted to show his sons a tangible example of overcoming adversity.
“I couldn’t live with the fact that I just gave up and there was a what-if hanging over my life for the rest of my life,” Ertz said.
» READ MORE: Does Zach Ertz still have the juice to contribute to the Eagles? Here’s what the film — and history — says
The Eagles need all of this to be more than ceremonial, as Inquirer columnist David Murphy wrote earlier this week. More than about him reeling in 11 more catches to become the franchise leader in receptions. The team will be without top tight end Dallas Goedert likely for a few weeks with a sprained MCL. Behind Ertz are a few blocking specialists. Ertz, for now, is on the practice squad, but he could be elevated or signed to the active roster and make his debut Monday.
“It’s up to the coaches,” Ertz said. “I’m not even on the active roster right now. For me it’s about going out there and proving that I can make a difference in the game. If I can’t make a difference in the game then I shouldn’t be out there.”
His knee, he said, “feels great,” but he will see how it feels Friday morning. He’s been “cramming,” he said, trying to learn a new offense that he’s never played in. Ertz said there were two or three pass plays left over from when Nick Sirianni installed his first offense in 2021. Routes are routes, but there is a lot of new terminology to learn.
“We’ll see where he is,” Sirianni said Thursday before practice. “It’s too early to say in my mind where he is, but we will quiz him and figure out where he is on different things.”
Ertz was having another productive season before he suffered his injury in December. He had 11 touchdowns in 30 games over his last two seasons in Washington, where he fell “back in love with the game again” and helped a young quarterback, Jayden Daniels, find his way.
Ertz admitted Thursday that he wasn’t always good with young players earlier in his career, but now he sees working with them as part of his duties. His locker stall at the Jefferson Health Training Complex tells a story. When he first got here a few days ago, it was in a different spot, but as the practice week got underway, Ertz’s stall was next to that of rookie second-round pick Eli Stowers, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury after a training camp where he didn’t really stand out.
“I don’t think it’s an accident that they put me here,” Ertz said. “I’m excited to work with him. We have the same agent so I’ve heard a lot about his story, a lot about the talent that he has. Not many tight ends can jump 44 inches and run a 4.5. Everyone has a superpower in this league and he’s got to play to his superpower. I’m looking forward to helping him kind of unlock that mentally, physically, to be at his best.
“I really embrace that role in my later stages of life … football life I should say."
It was a good correction. As of Thursday, Zach Ertz’s football life was officially revived.
» READ MORE: Eagles vs. Bears in Week 3: Here are the numbers that matter
Injury report
The Eagles had a lengthy first practice report of the week ahead of their Monday night game in Chicago.
Most notably, Saquon Barkley (stinger) practiced in a limited fashion. But the other two running backs on the active roster did not.
The following players did not practice: Tank Bigsby (abdomen), Goedert (knee), Will Shipley (foot), and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring).
The Eagles listed Barkley, Jalen Carter (wrist), Jonathan Greenard (pectoral), and Andrew Mukuba (knee) as limited participants.
Tyler Steen (shoulder) was a full participant.
The Eagles survived -- again. This time, instead of holding on for dear life as they did in their opener against Washington, the Eagles came from behind in the final minutes to pull out a gutsy win at Tennessee, with their quarterback leading the way. With the Eagles 2-0, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Mike Sielski examine Jalen Hurts’ promising performance through two games, and dig into the uneven play of the defense. Listen here.
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