Eli Stowers’ struggles this preseason have thrown a huge wrench into the Philadelphia Eagles’ tight end plans, and suddenly, general manager Howie Roseman might be looking at a familiar face to bail them out: Zach Ertz. The veteran tight end is reportedly healthy after tearing his right ACL last December, and frankly, the Eagles could really use him if they want to get this offense humming early.
The Tight End Tight Spot
Man, the Eagles’ tight end situation is a mess right now. Eli Stowers was supposed to step up, but he’s been battling a hamstring setback and barely practiced with Jalen Hurts. That’s a huge problem. You can’t just throw a guy in there cold and expect magic, especially in Sean Mannion’s new Kyle Shanahan-style scheme, which demands dual-purpose tight ends. Goedert’s solid as a “Y” receiver and Mundt can block, but neither guy is doing both effectively enough.
This is why Roseman is reportedly eyeing the position as the most likely area for a trade or a signing. Grant Calcaterra and E.J. Jenkins aren’t exactly setting the world on fire as second receiving tight ends, and if Stowers isn’t healthy by Week 1 or can’t contribute on special teams, it sounds like Latu is their only other option. That’s a tough spot to be in for a team with high hopes.
Why Ertz Is The Play
So, enter Zach Ertz. Yeah, he’s 35, but hear me out. This dude can still ball. Last year, before his injury, he was top 10 among all tight ends in catches and yards, on pace for 65 grabs and 659 yards. And remember that 2024 NFC Championship Game? He snagged 11 balls for 104 yards! The guy’s a beast when healthy, and he’s reportedly good to go.
Plus, Ertz already has chemistry with Jalen Hurts, having played together in 2020 and the first half of 2021. This isn’t some rando off the street. Roseman loves bringing back former Eagles, we all know that , just look at Marcus Epps, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Nick Foles. Ertz has made over $80 million in his career, so he’s not chasing a huge payday, and he’s got those strong ties to Philly with his family foundation.
Oh, and get this: Ertz is fifth all-time among tight ends with 825 catches. He only needs 11 more receptions to break Harold Carmichael’s Eagles franchise record of 589 receptions. When he got traded in 2021, he straight up said he wanted to come back and finish his career there. This is a story practically writing itself.
The clock is ticking for Howie Roseman and the Eagles’ front office. Do they roll with a struggling Stowers and a limited tight end room? Or do they make the move to bring Zach Ertz back, fix this tight end mess, and let him chase history where he belongs? The regular season opener is right around the corner. Fans gotta be on edge waiting to see if this legendary reunion actually happens.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
Leave a Reply