Latest news with #ZachErtz
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Washington Commanders training camp: Takeaways from Day 5
The Washington Commanders were back on the practice fields in Ashburn on Monday morning. It was hot, so the Commanders got an early start. Monday's practice was different, though, as Day 5 meant the first day Washington was in pads. NFL teams are allowed 16 padded practices during training camp, but there is a five-day acclimation period from the start of camp. The Commanders were ready for the pads. At one point during practice, second-year safety Tyler Owens and rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt collided, but they were fine. Here are some quick takeaways from Day 5: Head coach Dan Quinn likes to give his veterans more rest to help keep them healthy and reduce the wear and tear. Tight end Zach Ertz, entering his 13th NFL season, joked on Sunday that quarterback Jayden Daniels didn't like to see him receive rest days. Monday was a rest day for Ertz, as well as others. Laremy Tunsil, Von Miller, Marshon Lattimore, and Clelin Ferrell all joined Ertz with a day off. In his press conference before practice, Quinn spoke of using Deebo Samuel as a kickoff returner. Veteran running back Austin Ekeler handled the role last season but dealt with concussions. Luke McCaffrey took over late last season. It's uncertain how much the Commanders want to use Ekeler in that role. The new kickoff rules favor players like Ekeler and Samuel, who excel at their best work after the catch. It seems doubtful that Washington would use Samuel as a kickoff returner often, but it's an option to explore this summer. Some of the Washington beat reporters mentioned Croskey-Merritt as one of the camp's top standouts. Quinn discussed how it was hard to glean too much from a running back until the pads come on; however, he praised his "violent cuts," which were on display Monday. Making the team is not really a question. The Commanders loved Croskey-Merritt in the pre-draft process and believe they stole him in the seventh round. He's going to play this season. Stacking good practices only helps his cause. This is promising. Washington used its resources to improve its offensive and defensive lines this offseason. The run defense was the Achilles heel last season. Several resources were allocated to the defensive line, as the Commanders sought to add size and strength. It's early in camp, so you can't learn too much about the run defense, but this could go a long way toward Washington closing the gap on Philadelphia. What helps here is depth. The Commanders will rotate a lot of bodies up front and these players understand the importance of keeping bodies off their linebackers. Here's what Zach Selby of said about Daniels on Monday: We're not even a week into camp, but Daniels looked sharp on Monday's practice. It might have been his best practice of camp so far, as he was throwing precise, accurate passes to his weapons. One of the best came during a red zone period, as he connected with Austin Ekeler near the goal line. Ekeler made the catch and stretched the ball over the end zone before jogging out of bounds. Why does it not surprise you that when the pads came on, Daniels was at his best. This came the day after Daniels threw a dime in the back corner of the end zone for rookie Jaylin Lane, who made a phenomenal catch. For the second consecutive day, wide receiver Terry McLaurin came on the field toward the end of practice, had a conversation with his agent, and then went over to the fans and signed autographs. He briefly spoke to the media, telling them that he was taking everything day by day. Adam Schefter reported later on Monday that he believes McLaurin is asking north of $33 million, which is what new Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf is now making after signing a new contract. However, McLaurin is over two years older than Metcalf. Schefter said the two sides remain far apart. Teammates are happy that McLaurin is at least back in the building. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders training camp: Takeaways from Day 5
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Zach Ertz On Decision To Re-Sign With Washington Commanders: ‘The People Is What Makes The Building Special'
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz called it a "no-brainer" to return to the team, giving ... More major props to head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters on building the culture in Washington. (Photo by) Zach Ertz is still going strong as he enters his age-35 season with the Washington Commanders. The three-time Pro Bowl tight end and Super Bowl champion has found new life in his new home in Washington, re-establishing himself after a strong 2024 season. Ertz posted 66 receptions for 654 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, his best season since posting 88 receptions for 916 receiving yards as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2019. It also helps that Ertz is playing with the top second-year quarterback in Jayden Daniels. The strong play of both Ertz and the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year led to a surprising NFC Championship Game appearance by the Commanders, their deepest playoff run since 1991 when they won last won the Super Bowl. Ertz re-signed with the Commanders in the offseason, calling the decision a 'no-brainer.' 'It was a no brainer,' says Ertz in a one-on-one interview. 'Honestly, the season that we had, the enjoyment of the process that I was able to experience last year in D.C. with Coach Quinn, (general manager) Adam Peters was a no-brainer. At this point in my career, I'm not just playing to play the game. I'm playing the game to be a part of an organization that is competing at a high level, is loving the process and doing everything they can to put their players in positions to be successful. The reality of the situation is that's not every team in the NFL." Ertz is about to enter his 13th season in the NFL as the second-oldest tight end in the league (behind Travis Kelce). He knows better than anyone that not every team in the league has a good organization structure like the Commanders currently have in place. He's also well aware that while the Commanders were one of the top teams in the NFL, that doesn't automatically equal success this season. There will now be a target on Washington's back now that they're proven contenders. 'It's an honor and a privilege to be down here with an opportunity to continue to improve, not only as a player, but as a team,' says Ertz. 'For me, I think that's what's exciting. Whatever happened happened last year, because it's not going to have any impact on this year.' The veteran tight end speaks with clear passion of playing in D.C., which is saying something considering Ertz has been in the league for a long time. Ertz has made six postseason runs during his career. He makes sure to give credit to Peters for building the Commanders into a contender and with the right players. Ertz says it makes everything 'enjoyable' because the players make the building 'special.' 'The people is what makes the building special,' says Ertz. "It's not any slogan. It's not any saying that you put on a wall. It's the people that you bring in, makes the day to day enjoyable or not. Adam Peters, the GM, brought in people that truly cared about football, a ton, they love the game, they love the process of improving, the love of the process of winning. 'It was being surrounded with men like that, that made my job that much more enjoyable, because that is me to the tee,' Ertz continues. 'Being back there, it really was immediate from the moment I got to D.C.. I truly love being a Commander. A lot of it had to do with the people of Coach Quinn, the building, the environment that they created first class.' Ertz once again hammers home that the Commanders will have to continue working to replicate the success that they had last year. The veteran tight end won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2017 season. The Eagles would go on to lose in the divisional round the following season before losing in the wild card round during the 2019 season. 'I've talked to a lot of people about this past few months, nothing that what we did last year was going to impact this year,' says Ertz. 'Just because we had a successful season last year doesn't mean we're going to have a successful season this year. That's the beauty about the NFL. When the season starts and when we report for training camp in a few weeks from now, or a week and a half from now, no one cares about what happened last year.' The Commanders won a number of close games last season, winning four consecutive games last season at the end of the 2024 campaign by six points or less. Of their 12 regular season victories, nine came by one possession. 'Everyone's got optimism,' says Ertz. 'Everyone's got high goals, high hopes, and it's about who's going to improve the most during the year, who's going to improve the most during training camp,' says Ertz. 'You can go out there and be your best on game day. There were four, five, six games where we won games on the last play. Ball bounces two or three times a different way, and we're looking at a completely different season.' Ertz says the Commanders have to be even better this upcoming season as they look to finish the job this time around by winning the Super Bowl. 'We can't just rest on our laurels, saying we won the NFC Championship Game as a first-year operation. The reality is we have to improve. Other teams have improved. It's a lot. It's going to be 10 times harder this year than last year. That's what makes the NFL great.' Before Ertz starts training camp later this month, he took the time to hang out and give advice to Washington D.C.- area soccer players aged 18-to-19 years old before they head to Madrid. The two teenage soccer players selected from the tryouts will learn under Real Madrid's coaches as part of the 'Abbott Dream Team' campaign. The campaign sees 11 total soccer players aged 18-to-19 years old from America selected to train overseas under Real Madrid's coaches. The other cities where players will be selected from are Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. 'Abbott is one of the leaders in health in the world,' says Ertz. 'Just to be able to partner with them, truly was a no brainer. They're doing amazing work in terms of prioritizing health and nutrition for their athletes today with this partnership with Real Madrid and the program is they had a bunch of young men kids out here today with the chance to earn a trip to Real Madrid to practice out there for a week and really teach them for further education on nutrition and health and taking care of their body so they can continue to take the next step as athletes.' Ertz is obviously one of the most experienced players in the league, so he knows about longevity better than anyone. He also has some soccer knowledge considering his wife, Julie Johnson, played for a decade for the U.S. women's national team. His advice to the young soccer players wasn't so much about longevity, it was about playing free and not overthinking in the current moment. 'They've been preparing it for their whole life," says Ertz of the young soccer players. 'I really just want to let them know, you don't get up there in a big moment and over stress or overthink – you go out there and play free knowing you've done all the work. That really was the message that I tried to impart on them all.'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders Rumors Ignore Shockingly Disrespected Tight End Zach Ertz
Commanders Rumors Ignore Shockingly Disrespected Tight End Zach Ertz originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Washington Commanders' tight end Zach Ertz is coming to the end of his storied NFL career, so he likely doesn't need artificial motivation as he enters Year 14. Advertisement But if he was, he just got it. ... in a double-barreled way. After three so-so seasons with the Cardinals from 2021 to 2023, Ertz had a career resurgence of sorts with the Commanders last year, posting 654 yards and seven touchdowns from 66 receptions. Not to mention his 18 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown in Washington's three playoff games either. But apparently, Pro Football Focus doesn't value that as much as we do. In their latest tight end rankings ... out of 32 tight ends ranked, PFF has Ertz at No. 30, below Tyler Warren (24), and Colston Loveland (23), both just-drafted rookies. "While Ertz isn't the same player we saw from 2013 to 2019, he enjoyed a resurgence while catching passes from Jayden Daniels in 2024," Pro Football Focus writes. "He hauled in 84 passes for 809 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and his 72.5 PFF receiving grade was his best mark since 2019, showing he still has good play left in the tank." Advertisement So, we aren't sure exactly how PFF determined this ranking and where players landed, but it can't be due to on-field production. Same with the rumors that pop up regularly about "how Washington needs a tight end.'' The Jayden Daniels-led offense demonstrated last year alone how "star-studded'' is enough with this group just as it is - especially considering the trade for receiver Deebo Samuel. Looking at Ertz's regular-season stats from last season, among all tight ends, he finished 11th in yards, sixth in receptions, eighth in targets, and joint-fourth in touchdowns. So, based on production alone, Ertz likely deserves to be roughly around the middle of the pack, if not a little higher. Perhaps PFF has ranked the tight ends based on what it thinks the players will produce in 2025. Still, based on his production last season, 30th feels like a joke. Advertisement And based on everything, the idea of tight end as a desperate need here seems shockingly ignorant to us. And we bet Ertz feels the same way ... if he even bothers to notice the naysayers. Related: 'Deebo Is Fat' Evaluation Making The Rounds on Commanders Trade Get Samuel This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders Get Perfectly Clear One-Word Offseason Description
Commanders Get Perfectly Clear One-Word Offseason Description originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Fans watched in awe as the Washington Commanders stunned the NFL world last season, going from a wild card dark horse to a legitimate threat to reach the Super Bowl. Ultimately, those hopes fell short though the prospects of the Commanders' ability to contend are very real. Advertisement Quarterback Jayden Daniels continues to be the steam engine driving this forward. He reminded the Commanders of their brilliance in taking him No. 2 overall in last year's draft at multiple turns, constructing one of the best rookie campaigns of the modern era. The Commanders recognized this talent and have pushed the envelope to surround him with more talent. A busy free agency period, draft and two notable trades saw the Commanders reload and upgrade their roster for next season. Altogether, Fox Sports' Ben Arthur used the one-word descriptor of "upside" to address this team. "Jayden Daniels is on a superstar trajectory after one of the best rookie quarterback seasons in league history. The Commanders have been savvy about building around him (and his cheap contract) too, trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Advertisement "Washington also added a first-round offensive tackle in Josh Conerly Jr. and re-signed tight end Zach Ertz. This is a team set to compete for Super Bowls for many years to come." It's difficult to project out multiple years in an ever-changing environment like the NFL. However, the Commanders have clearly built this year's team with the intention of taking the next step and contending for a title. Daniels remains the center of the operation. The Commanders have acted aggressively to build a roster full of upside. But this label inevitably traces back to the quarterback. Superstars under center are a rare and precious finding in this league. It appears the Commanders have had an extreme turn of luck in landing such a player and leader. Advertisement Daniels, much like his teammates, has plenty to prove this season. But this team's upside should make them an absolute force in the NFC. Related: Eagles Legend Mocks Rival Deebo in Shocking Comment Related: Terry McLaurin Rumors Conflict As Commanders 'Not In A Good Place' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles' Dallas Goedert Reveals Feelings for City of Brotherly Love
Eagles' Dallas Goedert Reveals Feelings for City of Brotherly Love originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Eagles selected South Dakota State tight end Dallas Goedert with the 49th pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and many thought the Super Bowl would be the last game he ever played with the team. Advertisement But the team was able to agree on a new contract with Goedert earlier this offseason, which means they will keep him around. And the veteran tight end could not be happier that he is staying in Philadelphia. ""I got a lot of love for the city of Philadelphia, the ownership all the way to the cooks in the building. I got a great relationship with all of them," Goedert said on ESPN's NFL Live on Tuesday from Tight End University. "So, I figured for me it was best to work out a deal, so I could stay there and be with the people I find that are important and try to win another one." Goedert was drafted right after the Eagles won Super Bowl LII, so he did not get to be on that roster that made it all the way. But being on this team seems to have meant the world to him. The tight end missed some time this past season with a knee injury, but he was still able to rack up 496 yards and two touchdowns in the 10 games that he did play. Replacing a guy like Zach Ertz at the tight end position in Philadelphia was easier said than done, but Goedert quickly became a fan favorite. Advertisement The 30-year-old tight end will be looking to help the team that drafted him defend the Lombardi Trophy in 2025, and prove that they are absolutely the team to beat. Related: Eagles 'Culture' Takes New Twist After Newcomer Speaks Out Related: Eagles' Dallas Goedert Credits Travis Kelce For Career Impact This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
