Zach Ertz returns to the Eagles after Dallas Goedert’s MCL injury

Zach Ertz is coming home.

The Eagles are signing Ertz to the practice squad, and this isn’t a nostalgia move. Per Adam Schefter, the deal is happening now, and per Tom Pelissero, the plan is to have him on the 53-man roster in time for Monday Night Football against the Bears.

The reason is simple. Dallas Goedert sprained his MCL in Sunday’s 24-20 survival act over the Titans, and he’s expected to miss multiple weeks. He left in the second quarter after getting targeted twice and hauling in one catch for four yards. Before that, he’d been doing exactly what the Eagles pay him to do: 5 catches, 81 yards, 2 touchdowns through two games, both scores against Washington in Week 1. Last season he set a career high with 60 catches, 591 yards, and 11 touchdowns.

Zach Ertz knows exactly what this offense needs

“I am honored to be back in Eagles Green”

Zach is back. Zach Ertz arrives at Philly International Airport. pic.twitter.com/yDpZgdzdGz

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 22, 2026

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Zach Ertz spent eight-plus seasons in Philly after the Eagles took him in the second round back in 2013. Three Pro Bowls. A Super Bowl LII ring. Then a mid-2021 trade to Arizona, two and a half seasons there, a stop in Washington in 2024, and a torn ACL in December that ended his 2025 season and left him without a job all offseason. No contract. No training camp. Just waiting.

Now he’s 35, he’s a Sixers ticket away from unemployed, and he’s back in the building because the Eagles need a body who already knows the offense cold. He’s also 11 catches away from breaking Harold Carmichael’s franchise record of 589. That number was sitting there collecting dust for months. Now it’s relevant again.

The math problem this actually solves

Without Goedert, Sunday’s run game looked like it owed someone money. 89 yards on 32 carries. 2.8 yards a pop. Saquon Barkley left with a stinger and got four carries all day, and as of Monday, Sirianni had no update on him. So the Eagles won at 2-0 with their top tight end and their best running back both banged up, and they still found a way to get a Hurts touchdown pass to Darius Cooper with seconds left.

Zach Ertz isn’t walking in to replace Goedert’s blocking or his red zone gravity. Nobody’s asking him to. He’s there to catch what he’s thrown, know the checkdowns, and not make Jalen Hurts think about anything he doesn’t have to think about. That’s the whole job.

Sometimes the answer isn’t a splashy trade or a waiver claim. Sometimes it’s a guy who already has a locker room in his back pocket and a number retired in his memory.

Zach Ertz is back. Goedert’s out for a bit. Barkley’s a question mark. And the Eagles are still 2-0.

Beautiful country.