What Zach Ertz’s return means for Eagles after Goedert injury

The Philadelphia Eagles have brought back tight end Zach Ertz to provide stability to their position until key players Dallas Goedert and their young players return from injuries. Goedert sustained a sprained MCL while playing against the Tennessee Titans, which means he will be sidelined for several weeks, leaving Johnny Mundt and E.J.

Jenkins as the top receivers on the active depth chart. Mundt has proven to be a dependable blocker but has not recorded more than 19 receptions in a single season, while Jenkins remains an unproven option.

Ertz is signing with Philadelphia’s practice squad, which allows the team to control the timeline for his potential elevation to the active roster. The Eagles are not looking for Ertz to replace Goedert as their long-term solution at tight end; instead, they need him to help stabilize the position and give quarterback Jalen Hurts additional options.

Ertz already has experience catching passes from Hurts, having overlapped with the quarterback during the 2020 and 2021 seasons before being traded to Arizona. This familiarity should reduce the usual adjustment period associated with an in-season signing.

As a practice squad player, Ertz can learn Sean Mannion’s offense and demonstrate his physical readiness before the Eagles decide to bring him into the regular lineup. The practice-squad designation also grants Philadelphia the flexibility to manage his transition back into the team. While Philadelphia does not require Ertz’s 2018-level performance, they do need a dependable veteran who can keep the tight end position functional until Goedert returns to the roster.