The Washington Commanders saw Zach Ertz suffer a season-ending knee injury last year. However, even if speculation rose about the tight end’s future, he’s cleared the air, saying he wants to come back for another season.
Ertz spoke with Jedd McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He said, “I don’t want it to be the last play that I have... it’s just doing everything I can to get back to my best because I felt like I was playing really good football before I got hurt.”
Ertz is right, by the way. In the 2025 season, he had 50 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns. Bear in mind, most of the season was played with a backup quarterback, as the Commanders used Marcus Mariota due to Jayden Daniels’ injuries.
What does the future hold for Ertz?
Now a free agent, it will be tough for the 36-year-old to come back. Not only is he an advanced-age player, but the injury is also a tough one to ignore. Ertz revealed that he is aiming to come back to the field in training camp.
Ertz also admitted that he knows he will have to prove that he is both healthy and productive to find a new place to work, but he is eager to prove doubters wrong. Ertz is one of the best tight ends in the last decade, and is a Super Bowl champion as well. He is a good presence to have in the locker room.
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The Commanders have another tight end already
The Commanders are not likely to re-sign Ertz, because they already found a replacement. The team signed Chig Okonkwo to their roster. Okonkwo is younger, faster, and more explosive than Ertz.
Okonkwo is fresh off a 560-yard, 56-catch season with the Titans. He only scored two touchdowns, but he will enter a slightly more talented roster now, where he can play alongside Jayden Daniels.
