Why Philadelphia Eagles might not go after Zach Ertz, franchise icon waived by Cardinals
PHILADELPHIA − It would make for a storybook ending for Zach Ertz to return to the Eagles, the team he always wanted to spend his entire career with, now that he was waived by the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday.
After all, Ertz was one of the best tight ends in the NFL from his eight-plus seasons in Philadelphia. And he is just 11 receptions short of the franchise record for receptions set by Hall of Fame wide receiver Harold Carmichael.
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And the Eagles can certainly use Ertz now that top tight end Dallas Goedert has missed two straight games with a broken forearm and will likely miss a third this Sunday when the Eagles face the 49ers in a rematch of the NFC championship game last January 29.
But those storybook endings don't always come to fruition.
The Eagles have the 32nd pick in the waiver claims based on having the best record in the NFL. Even if Ertz clears waivers − that won't be determined until Monday − it won't be in time for the game Sunday.
Any team claiming Ertz would owe him about $2.5 million in salary for the rest of this season. If no team claims Ertz, he would become a free agent, meaning he could sign with anyone.
Why Eagles won't sign Ertz
There are two factors working against Ertz in a possible Eagles reunion.
The first is that Ertz is currently on injured reserve with a quad injury. He has missed five games, so he would be eligible to return if he's healthy. Still, Ertz hasn't played since Oct. 22. Chances are, he wouldn't be able to handle a full load.
Secondly, the Ertz of 2023 is not the Ertz who was with the Eagles. Ertz set an NFL record for receptions by a tight end with 116 in 2018. Ertz has 27 receptions for 187 yards in seven games this season for the Cardinals.
Why it could work for Ertz
Then again, Ertz is beloved not only by the Eagles organization, but in the community. He and his wife, Julie, the U.S. Women's National Team soccer player who recently retired, have been active in the Ertz Family Foundation.
And even when Ertz was traded to the Cardinals in October 2021, he always expressed a desire to finish his career with the Eagles, in part to break Carmichael's record.
Ertz gave a tearful press conference after he was traded, hoping even then that he'd get another chance to come back.
"Maybe I’ll come back and get 12 catches and Harold can go to No. 2," Ertz said that day. "I’ll let him have it for a few more years, maybe forever. It’s been fun."
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Will Eagles go after Zach Ertz, franchise icon waived by Cardinals
